66-6 


"^  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  ^ 


PRESENTED  BY 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION 


T\    L 


ecB 


i^^Z'dl 


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LEARN  TO  SAY  NO 


OB 


THE  CITY  APPRENTICE. 


WRITTEN    FOR    THE    BOARD    OF    PUBLICATION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 
NO.  265  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 
JAMES  DUNLAP,  Treas. 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District 
of  Pennsylvania. 


STEREOTYPED   BT 

.TESPEK  HARDING  &  SON, 

NO.    57    SOUTH   THIRD    STREET,    PHILADELPHIA. 


LEAHN  TO    SAY  NO. 


Such  was  the  advice  my  brother  gave 
me.  It  was  on  the  night  previous  to  my 
leaving  home. 

I  had  been  reared  near  a  quiet  country 
village^  had  enjoyed  the  sweets  and  the 
privileges  of  a  Christian  home,  under  the 
faithful  and  tender  care  of  loving  parents, 
with  brothers  and  sisters  who  made  my 
childhood  days  more  pleasant  as  they 
passed,  and  the  remembrance  of  them  now 
more  precious. 

Never  yet  had  I  lived  with  strangers, 
and  the  ^^cold  world"  were  words  of 
which  I  had  not  learned  the  meaning. 

(3) 


4  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

PACKING   THE   TRUNK. 

During  the  afternoon  my  trunk  was 
packed,  and  many  were  the  tears  of  mo- 
ther and  sisters  that  fell  into  it,  and  some 
of  my  own  were  mingled  with  them  ;  es- 
pecially when  a  younger  brother,  after 
contemplating  for  some  time  the  putting 
in  and  taking  out,  packing  and  unpacking, 
and  the  commingling  tears,  looked  up  into 
my  face,  as  if  he  must  do  his  part  towards 
comforting  me,  and  said,  "  When  brother 
L.  went  away,  there  wasn't  half  so  much 
fuss  made  in  packing  his  vahse." 

That  was  twent3^-four  years  ago,  but 
the  whole  scene  is  as  distinctly  before 
me  now,  as  if  it  had  been  but  yesterday. 

The  winter  term  of  school  was  just 
completed,  and  this  afternoon  was  one  of 
those  rainy,  dark  and  chilly  afternoons, 
when  the  light  and  warmth  of  a  capacious 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 


fire-place  make  one  love  home  more,  and 
shiver  at  the  thought  of  going  far  away 


to  be  with  strangers. 


LAST   EVENING   AT   FAMILY   WORSHIP. 

It  grew  darker;  then  came  the  sup- 
per ;  but  why  was  it  so  still,  and  why  was 
so  little  eaten  ?  The  evening  passed  too 
soon  aw^ay,  with  many  last  words,  and 
then  the  worship,  which  that  house  never 
lost,  morning  or  evening :  the  Scripture, 
the  hymn,  the  prayer, — Oh,  the  church  in 
my  father's  house  !  The  memories  clus- 
tering there!  The  influences  centreing 
there !  Some  are  born  to  the  possession 
of  wealth,  some  to  inherit  crowns  ;  but 
to  be  born  in  a  house  where  was  an 
altar  on  w^hich  the  fire  was  not  suffered 
to  go  out,  was  my  privilege ;  and  a  privi- 
lege with  which  I  do  not  now  think  of 
1* 


b  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

anything  fit  to  be  compared.  But  the 
worship  of  that  evening  had  something 
of  uncommon  interest ;  my  father's  usu- 
ally firm  voice  was  not  so  then  ;  and,  were 
I  to  express  myself  as  children  sometimes 
do,  I  should  say,  "  My  heart  was  in  my 
throat." 

A  brother's  parting  counsels. 

An  older  brother  invited  me  to  sleep 
with  him  that  night.  He  knew  some- 
thing of  the  world,  had  travelled  a  little, 
had  read  much,  and  had  thought  more  ; 
and  as  I  was  to  go  to  a  city  to  be  a 
stranger  there,  he  wished  to  talk  with  me 
about  it,  principally  that  I  might  be  for- 
tified against  the  temptations  that  I  would 
meet  on  every  hand.  He  talked  far  on 
into  the  night,  giving  me,  as  it  were,  my 
sailing    directions ;   but  finally  said,  "  I 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  7 

know  but  very  little  about  it  after  all. 
lu  a  few  weeks  you  will  be  able  to  tell 
me  much  more  about  city  life  than  I  have 
ever  known ;  but  the  sum  and  substance 
of  the  advice  I  would  give  you  in  regard 
to  all  these  evil  practices,  and  in  regard 
to  all  temptations  is,  Learn  to  say  NO. 
You  know  what  is  right,  and  what  is 
wrong;  you  know  the  commandments; 
you  have  had  every  advantage  a  boy  need 
to  have  for  religious  instruction  in  order 
to  his  setting  out  in  the  world  aright,  and 
to  his  keeping  on  also  in  the  way  of  right- 
eousness. God  has  given  you  a  conscience 
w^hich  will  do  you  good  service  if  you  will 
heed  its  admonitions.  All  will  depend 
on  your  firm  resistance  of  every  tempta- 
tion by  the  help  of  God.  Set  your  face 
like  a  flint.  Say  No,  and  that  positively 
— outright,  so  that  those  who  tempt  you 


8  LEARN    TO   SAY   NO. 

will  see  that  you  mean  what  you  say — 
that  you  are  not  to  be  moved  from  the 
ground  you  have  taken.  It  will  cost  you 
something  to  do  it,  but  what  of  that? 
It  may  sometimes  seem  unfriendly  to  re- 
fuse to  join  a  companion  in  what  he  terms 
amusement,  and  often  you  will  bring  upon 
yourself  the  sneers,  and  perhaps  for  a 
time  the  ill  will  and  persecution  of  the 
youth  with  whom  your  lot  may  be  cast, 
but  what  of  it  ?  You  can  well  afford  to 
suffer  a  little  persecution  for  the  benefits 
which  upright  deportment,  steady  habits, 
and  a  clear  conscience  will  bring  you ; 
but  you  can't  afford  to  risk  all  that  is  de- 
sirable as  to  respectability  and  success  in 
life,  for  the  sake  of  an  hour's  enjoyment, 
nor  can  you  afford  to  peril  your  soul  for 
the  sake  of  avoiding  a  little  petty  perse- 
cution. 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  9 

^'  Be  firm  then,  say  No  to  everything 
which  your  judgment  or  conscience  tells 
you  is  wrong  in  itself,  or  injurious 
in  its  tendencies  ;  and  remember,  that 
much  which  may  seem  innocent  amuse- 
ments, may,  either  by  the  company  they 
bring  one  into,  or  by  the  tastes  and 
habits  they  engender,  lead  on  to  what  is 
more  decidedly  bad. 

"  Your  hardest  struggles  will  probably 
be  at  the  outset ;  but  from  the  first  let 
your  companions  learn  that  a  laugh  cannot 
hurt  you;  that  importunities  will  not 
move  you  from  what  you  believe  is  right, 
and  let  them  see — don't  be  ashamed  to 
let  them  know — that  you  have  the  fear  of 
God  before  your  eyes,  and  by-and-by 
they  will  cease  to  trouble  you,  and  more- 
over, they  will  respect  you  for  your  inde- 
pendence.   You  will  have  the  esteem  and 


10  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

confidence  of  those  in  whose  service  you 
may  be ;  but  better  than  all,  you  will  en- 
joy an  approving  conscience,  and  God 
will  help  you  ;  but  don't  forget  that  you 
need  that  help,  therefore  never  forget  to 
pray.  Improve  all  leisure  moments  in 
reading — reading  what  is  profitable,  and 
the  Bible  is  worthy  of  much  reading,  yes, 
to  be  studied.  Solomon's  sayings  you 
will  find  as  appropriate,  and  as  profitable, 
as  if  they  had  been  written  on  purpose 
for  you." 

After  this  manner  discoursed  my  good 
brother  for  a  long  time,  and  I  said  not  a 
word,  for  I  was  anxious  to  drink  in  all 
his  words,  and  was  praying  to  be  able  to 
observe  all  this  good  counsel.  He  advised 
me  also  with  regard  to  fidelity  to  my  em- 
ployers, to  diligence  in  business,  and  as 
to  my  deportment  in  the  families  in  which 


LEARN   TO   SAY  NO.  11 

I  might  reside  ;  all  of  which  was  of  great 
service  to  me. 

FARM   EMPLOYMENTS   AND   ENJOYMENTS. 

The  morning  came,  it  was  a  sunny 
morning  of  early  spring;  the  snow  had 
left  the  hills,  was  leaving  the  fields,  but 
lingered  along  the  fences  and  in  the  woods. 
That  forenoon  I  wandered  alone  about 
the  farm  and  through  the  woods,  and 
wondered  if  I  would  ever  again  tread  these 
paths  when  the  trees  would  be  all  in 
green,  and  alive  with  birds,  singing  to 
each  other  and  for  me.  I  fed  the  sheep 
and  the  cattle  once  more,  and  felt  bad  in 
thinking  I  could  not  do  it  again ;  then  to 
the  stables,  and  talked  to  the  horses. 
Oh,  I  was  sorry  to  leave  them,  and  not  to 
this  day,  have  1  lost  my  love  of  a  farmer  s 
life;  and  perhaps,  just  here  I  may  tell 


12  LEARN   TO   SAY    NO. 

you — though  very  hkely  there  may  be 
more  to  interest  me  in  talking  over  these 
matters,  than  you  will  find  in  reading  what 
is  written — but  I  will  just  here  tell  you 
that  at  about  the  age  of  ten,  I  was  sent 
to  study  Latin  and  other  matters,  with 
a  view  to  preparation  for  college.  But, 
after  attending  school  awhile,  like  too  many 
other  foolish  boys,  who  do  not  know  the 
value  of  an  education,  nor  the  importance 
of  improving  the  days  of  early  youth  in 
storing  the  mind  with  knowledge,  which 
is  most  easily  laid  up  then,  I  began  to 
talk  about  "much  study  being  a  weari- 
ness to  the  flesh,"  and  to  sigh  for  the 
fields  and  woods  again.  But,  to  tell  a 
little  more  of  the  truth,  I  very  well  knew 
that  my  parents  had  no  other  design  in 
affording  me  these  advantages,  than  that 
I  might,  by  the  grace  of  God  and  the 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  13 

help  of  the  schools,  become  a  mmister  of 
the  Gospel,  and  that  was  what  I  most 
dreaded;  I  had  then  no  taste  or  heart 
for  that  profession. 

EARLY  OFFERS  OF  AN  EDUCATION  DECLINED. 

Often  had  my  father,  when  we  were  to- 
gether in  the  fields,  spoken  of  the  dignity 
of  that  office,  of  endeavouring  to  spend 
our  life  in  doing  good ;  of  labouring  not 
for  the  meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that 
which  endures  to  eternal  life.  I  believe 
my  parents  did  offer  me  to  God  to  be 
employed  by  him  in  the  ministry,  if  he 
would  accept  their  gift;  and  I  believe 
they  prayed  much  with  reference  to  it ; 
and  I  trust  that  those  prayers  were  not 
poured  into  the  empty  air.  They  may  be 
staying  up  my  hands,  and  comforting  my 
heart  this  very  day.     But  I  plead  to  be 


14  LEARN  TO   SAY  NO. 

released  from  school;  and,  when  they 
saw  me  getting  tired  of  study,  after  urging 
and  reasoning  awhile,  they  yielded  to 
my  entreaties,  fearing,  I  suppose,  that 
they  might  be  choosing  one  whom  God 
had  not  chosen. 

My  sisters,  however,  would  not  let  me 
off  so  easily;  they  argued,  entreated, 
then  tried  to  shame  me  from  throwing 
away  such  pricelesss  opportunities ;  but  I 
would  answer  by  whistling  a  stave  of  the 
"  Farmer's  Boy,"  or  something  like  it ;  and 
well  I  remember,  how  I  laboured  to  quiet 
my  own  mind  (for^  I  was  by  no  means 
satisfied  that  I  was  doing  right)  by  going 
about  my  work  and  singing,  "  A  farmer's 
boy,  he  sought  no  better  name,  the  fields 
his  study,  nature  was  his  book." 

Well,  I  left  the  school  and  returned  to 
the  farm,  and  worked  with  a  will,  attending 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  15 

school  during  the  winter  season,  and 
reading  much  when  not  at  school.  But 
after  a  while  it  began  to  be  feared  that  I 
might  not  have  health  and  strength  suffi- 
cient for  a  rugged  farmer,  and  so  a  trade 
was  talked  of  for  me ;  and  if  a  trade,  it 
should  be  a  good  one,  and  at  a  place 
where  it  might  be  learned  in  the  best 
manner.  Through  a  relative,  a  situa- 
tion was  obtained  for  me  in  the  city; 
and  depending  on  that  relative's  recom- 
mendation, my  parents  consented  to  the 
arrangement,  though  not  without  much 
anxiety.  This,  however,  is  a  digression. 
I  was  telling  you  about  my  leave-taking 
amongst  the  cattle  and  horses,  and  of 
what  a  leaning  I  have  always  had  towards 
a  farmer's  hfe;  and,  when  I  see  boys  pre- 
ferring the  walls  and  pavements  of  a  city, 
to  the  green  fields  and  fresh  air  of  the 


16  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

country,  I  wonder  at  it  somewhat.     But 
to  my  narrative. 

TAKING  THE   STAGE. 

After  dinner,  the  little  wagon  and  the 
black  mare  was  driven  to  the  door;  I 
need  not  undertake  to  tell  you  what 
mother  and  sisters  said  and  did,  but 
even  now  I  seem  to  see  father  silently 
putting  that  little  trunk  into  the  wagon, 
and  myself  taking  a  seat  beside  him.  I 
can't  tell  you  what  his  thoughts  were,  but 
his  words  were  few,  nor  did  he  say  much 
at  parting  with  me  at  the  stage-office.  I 
need  not  tell  you  about  that,  to  me,  long 
journey  for  one  long  day  and  two  long 
nights  through  mud  and  old  snow  drifts, 
on  crowded  seats,  or  on  other  people's 
knees;  sometimes  in  a  coach,  but  for  the 
most  part  in  a  rougher  vehicle.  And  you 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  17 

will  not  expect  me  to  tell  you  how  the 
city  appeared.  Those  who  remember 
what  Albany  was  twenty-four  years  ago 
will  know  what  sights  met  my  eyes  as 
we  came  in  on  the  old  "Cherry  Valley 
turnpike"  down  State  street,  and  into 
south  Market  street. 

FIRST  SIGHT  OF  THE  CITY. 

Here  was  a  boy  from  a  quiet  rural 
home  in  central  New  York — strange 
sights,  strange  sounds,  everything  new. 
But  business  before  sight  seeing.  From 
the  hotel  I  went  at  once  to  the  place  of 
my  destination,  for  I  had  the  number  and 
could  recognize  the  sign,  and  happily  I 
met  my  uncle  near  the  place,  for  business 
had  brought  him  to  town  that  morning ; 
he  took  me  in  and  introduced  me,  and  in 
less  than  an  hour  your  country  boy  was 

2* 


18  LEARN    TO   SAY   NO. 

installed  as  youngest  apprentice,  with 
apron  on  and  sleeves  rolled  up,  and  ready 
for  work;  and  work  is  what  I  have  al- 
ways loved,  thanks  to  early  education, 
early  habits,  and  a  good  example. 

MY    EMPLOYERS. 

One  of  the  heads  of  the  establishment 
I  had  seen  before  at  the  church  in  the 
village  from  which  I  came,  for  his  pa- 
rents resided  there,  and  were  worthy 
members  of  what  I  shall  call  "  our  church." 
And  here  you  may  discover  a  reason  why 
my  parents  consented  to  my  going  to  the 
city.  They  supposed  the  son  must  be  a 
man  something,  at  least,  of  the  same  stamp 
with  his  parents,  and  their  correspondence 
with  him  showed  nothing  else.  But  alas ! 
I  soon  discovered  that  the  son  was  a  de- 
generate plant.     He  had  left  home  too 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  19 

early,  or  too  poorly  fortified  with  good 
principles.  Were  I  to  give  you  his  his- 
tory, even  what  I  know  of  it,  it  would 
make  your  heart  ache.  Like  too  many 
that  receive  boys  into  their  service,  nei- 
ther he  nor  his  partner  cared  where  their 
apprentices  were  at  other  hours,  or  how 
they  occupied  themselves  in  their  own 
time,  if  only  they  were  in  their  places 
during  the  working  hours.  So  here  I 
was,  amongst  twenty  or  more  shopmates, 
men  and  boys,  none  of  whom  were  pious, 
many  of  whom  were  intemperate,  and 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  profane;  all 
without  the  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes, 
and  regarding  the  Sabbath  only  as  a  day 
of  pleasure,  if  not  of  frolicking.  There 
were  amongst  them  men  who  had  roamed 
the  world  over,  if  I  may  so  speak ; 
men  who  were  here  to  day  and  away  to- 
morrow. 


20  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 


ALMOST    HOMESICK. 


1  OUGHT  to  have  reported  home  the 
state  of  things  as  I  found  it,  and  sure  I 
am  I  would  soon  have  been  sent  for.  But 
I  left  port  this  time  with  "Perseverance" 
on  my  flag,  and  with  this  nailed  to  the 
mast;  and,  so  far  as  I  could  see  then, 
there  was  scarce  a  chance  for  getting  into 
abetter  shop;  so  in  my  letters  home  I 
let  them  see  only  one  side  of  the  picture, 
kept  silent  about  things  that  were  imfa- 
vourable,  and  reported  only  what  I  thought 
would  bear  to  be  read  at  home ;  and  not 
till  years  afterwards  did  my  people  know 
the  dangers  that  had  beset  my  course. 
But  here  was  an  opportunity  of  trying 
what  my  brother's  potent  No  would  do. 
With  plenty  of  work  I  got  on  well  until 
Saturday   afternoon,  which  was   a  time 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  21 

for  "  cleaning  up."  The  men  one  after 
another  left  the  shop.  It  grew  stiller 
and  stiller.  I  leaned  upon  a  bench  and 
looked  steadily  down  upon  those  who 
were  passing  in  the  street ;  then  away  to 
the  dancing  masts  of  the  sloops  upon  the 
river ;  thoughts  of  home  stole  over  me, 
with  thoughts  of  the  rough  realities  around 
me.  I  am  not  sure  that  I  ever  had  the 
real  home-sickness,  but  if  ever,  then  it 
was  while  leaning  on  that  bench  that 
Saturday  afternoon  that  I  suffered  a  par- 
oxysm of  that  disease. 

A  SABBATH   MORNING    THAT  WAS   NOT   SUCH 
TO    ME. 

Sabbath  came — Sabbath  morning.  I 
was  awake  by  daylight.  In  my  father's 
house  all  were  up  full  as  early  on  the 
Sabbath  as  any  other  morning  \  but  here 


22  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

the  house  was  still,  and  so  on,  and  on, 
and  on.  What  a  wearisome  morning  ! 
The  streets  were  silent,  window  shutters 
were  still  closed.  Appearances  did  not 
please  me.  I  felt  that  I  ought  to  be  up 
and  reading  some  good  book,  or  refreshing 
my  mind  with  the  Sabbath-school  lesson. 
I  waited,  and  waited,  not  liking  to  be 
the  first  to  rise,  for  ours  was  a  large  room 
with  several  occupants.  At  length,  how- 
ever, I  arose,  but  not  without  bringing 
upon  myself  some  ill-natured  speech  for 
disturbing  the  sleep  of  others.  I  dressed 
for  the  Sabbath ;  and  now  what  was  I  to 
do  ?  There  was  no  fire  in  the  house  yet, 
and  the  weather  was  pretty  cool.  Here 
was  no  closet  either,  no  opportunity  for 
being  by  myself.  I  was  alone  in  a  crowd, 
for  there  was  not  one  who  would  sympa- 
thize with  me.     Be  not  surprised  if  my 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  23 

heart  was  after  my  own  little  bed-room 
which  I  had  left,  and  the  cheering  fireside 
and  the  happy  family  around  it,  each  en- 
gaged in  a  manner  appropriate  to  the  day 
of  holy  rest.  I  took  out  my  Bible,  it  had 
a  famihar  look,  and  assumed  in  my  eyes 
that  morning  the  character  of  a  compan- 
ion, and  confidential  friend. 

By-and-by  the  sleepers  began  to  be- 
stir themselves ;  they  glanced  at  me  al- 
ready in  my  "  Sunday  clothes,"  at  my 
open  Bible,  and  then  at  each  other,  with 
a  curl  of  the  lip,  and  a  wink  of  the  eye. 
I  saw  it,  and  felt  it;  my  spirit  quailed 
somewhat,  my  heart  was  sinking.  "  For 
how  long  must  this  be  ?"  said  I  to  myself; 
but  my  heart  looked  up,  and  said,  "  May 
God  help  me !" 


24  LEARN   TO   SAY  NO. 

WANT   OF   A   FRIEND. 

When  breakfast  was  over,  and  an  un- 
necessarily long  time  had  been  spent  in 
dressing,  all  left  the  house,  and  I  was  glad 
to  have  the  chamber  to  myself.  I  would 
have  been  glad  of  a  companion  to  conduct 
me  to  Sabbath-school  and  church,  but 
since  their  minds  were  not  for  this,  I  was 
thankful  to  be  left  alone.  I  inquired  of 
the  lady  of  the  house  respecting  the 
churches,  and  learned  that  she  often  at- 
tended the  Baptist  church.  She  offered 
to  show  me  the  way;  I  went,  and  found 
for  myself  a  seat  in  the  gallery. 

A  few  weeks  more  in  the  city  and  I 
extended  my  knowledge  of  the  places  of 
worship,  and  began  attending  one  of  the 
Presbyterian  churches  pretty  regularly, 
in  the  morning  at  least;  but  the  evening, 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  25 

and  often  the  aflernoon  I  took  for  visit- 
ing other  places  of  worship.  I  ought  to 
have  reported  myself  at  once  to  the  pas- 
tor of  some  Presbyterian  church,  and  have 
become  a  member  of  his  Sabbath-school. 
Then  would  I  have  found  friends  of  the 
right  kind,  and  been  encircled  with  in- 
fluences which  I  greatly  needed.  But  I 
was  too  bashful.  I  was  conscious  of  be- 
ing a  country  boy ;  neither  coat,  nor  hat^ 
nor  shoes,  nor  gait  had  just  the  "city 
touch."  In  church  my  seat  was  in  the 
gallery,  without  associates.  I  went  alone, 
and  returned  alone.  Promising  myself 
to  find  my  way  soon  to  a  Sabbath-school, 
the  weeks  passed  by  without  witnessing 
the  fulfilment  of  my  promise,  and  what- 
ever difficulties  were,  or  were  imagined 
to  be,  in  the  way  at  first,  seemed  by  the 
delay  to  increase  rather  than  diminish. 


26  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

SABBATH   WALKS. 

But  sitting  in  a  cheerless  room  at  home 
and  alone  or  in  the  cellar  kitchen  was  in 
truth  considerably  uninteresting,  and  so, 
as  the  summer  approached,  I  the  more 
easily  argued  myself  into  a  belief  that  I 
might  better  take  a  walk  some  part  of  the 
day  out  through  a  quiet  street,  or  to  a 
grove.  I  carried  a  pocket  Testament  on 
these  occasions,  and  read  from  it  by  the 
way,  or  seated  under  a  tree ;  and  though 
I  enjoyed  some  of  these  w^alks,  while  I 
was  careful  not  to  get  so  far  as  to  be  back 
too  late  for  church,  which  as  yet  I  scru- 
pulously attended  three  times  each  Sab- 
bath, yet  I  never  felt  quite  satisfied  that 
it  was  right.  It  was,  at  least,  taking  me 
into  the  way  of  temptation,  and  so  I  ex- 
perienced to  my  sorrow.    Oh,  what  would 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  27 

I  have  given  for  even  one  serious  shop- 
mate,  or  fellow  boarder ;  or  for  one  who 
might  have  only  some  tolerable  respect 
for  the  Sabbath,  and  a  church-goer ! 

As  to  the  mistress  of  the  house,  whom 
I  saw  received  into  her  church,  and  from 
whom  therefore  I  expected  help  as  to  my 
religious  wants — even  in  her  I  was  dis- 
appointed. What  was  the  matter  I  do  not 
know,  but  she  never  seemed  disposed  to 
introduce  religious  conversation,  her  at- 
tendance at  church  became  less  regular, 
her  Sabbaths  were  several  removes  from 
Sabbaths  of  the  Puritan  stamp,  she  was 
not  a  reader,  and  religious  books  were 
not  to  be  found  in  the  house — not  those  at 
least  of  an  interesting  kind.  Oh,  how 
much  I  lost  by  not  at  once  finding  a  Sab- 
bath-school or  Bible  class,  which  would 
have  helped  me  to  a  more  profitable  and 


28  LEARN   TO    SAY    NO. 

interesting  way  of  spending  my  Sabbaths, 
and  would  have  saved  me  from  many 
temptations  which  otherwise  I  would  be 
likely  to  encounter  ! 

TEMPTATIONS  ATTENDING  SABBATH  WALKS. 

My  Sabbath  walks  brought  me  into 
trouble,  for  now  and  then  some  one  that 
knew  me  would  be  met,  would  cross  my 
track  or  overtake  me,  and  insist  on  my 
being  his  company ;  or  fall  in  with  me, 
and  keep  with  me,  whether  I  would  or 
no.  Such  an  occurrence  would  spoil  my 
walk.  My  motives  in  walking  might  be 
better  than  theirs,  but  they  could  see  no 
difference,  and  other  people  would  see  no 
difference.  I  was  walliing,  they  w^ere 
doing  no  more ;  but  they  were  taking  the 
Sabbath  as  a  day  of  recreation,  not  of 
holy  rest ;  they  were  Sabbath-breakers, 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  29 

and  I  was  in  their  company.  Conscience 
would  bestir  itself,  would  call  for  that  No, 
would  urge  me  to  turn  back  to  the  house 
at  once ;  but  the  tempter  would  whisper, 
"  Compromise  ;  you  go  a  little  way  with 
them,  then  bring  them  around  to  church 
with  you — go  with  them  this  time,  and^ 
hereafter  keep  out  of  their  way;  after 
this  you  may  choose  a  path  they  don't 
frequent." 

SLIDING     DOWN     HILL     EASIER     THAN     CLIMB- 
ING  UP. 

But  it  is  not  safe  to  give  one  inch  to 
the  enemy — after  once  yielding  to  temp- 
tation, the  tempter  has  less  difficulty  in 
overcoming  us  the  second  time.  Let  a 
breach  be  made  in  your  intrenchments, 
and  your  danger  is  imminent.  It  is  easy 
slipping  down  an  inclined  plane,  but  not 

3* 


30  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

SO  easy  getting  to  the  top  again.  One 
cannot  on  the  Sabbath  go  with  Sabbath- 
breakers  without  being  partaker  of  their 
sin,  nor  without  being  greatly  injured; 
there  will  be  a  loss  of  self  respect,  and 
of  moral  courage;  and  those  inbred  sins, 
that  den  of  lusts  in  the  heart  of  every 
one,  yea  that  garrison  of  strong  men 
armed,  the  evil  passions  and  desires 
which  even  the  best  men  have  always  to 
be  fighting  and  watching — these,  as  sure 
as  they  get  a  little  liberty,  will  be  prompt 
to  improve  it,  and  with  much  difficulty 
will  they  be  brought  under  again.  You 
remember  that  the  way  to  the  pit  is 
represented  as  a  broad  and  a  downward 
road,  and  so  it  will  be  found  by  all  who 
travel  it. 

My  Sabbath  walks,  I  said,  brought  me 
into   difficulty.     There  was  no   path  so 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  31 

retired,  so  out  of  the  way,  but  that  in 
them,  or  in  getting  to  and  from  them,  I 
was  liable  to  meet  some  one  that  knew 
me;  and  my  want  of  firmness  allowed 
them  to  rob  me  sometimes  of  one  of  the 
services  of  the  sanctuary,  by  permitting 
them  to  select  the  walks,  and  by  follow- 
ing them  too  far. 

How  much  better  would  it  have  been, 
had  I  pursued  the  course  which  I  well 
enough  knew  I  ought  to  have  pursued ! 

Though  I  steadily  persisted  in  refusing 
to  go  with  my  fellow  apprentices  to  the 
sliop  on  Sabbath  morning,  or  to  start  off 
with  them  on  their  rambles,  though  they 
considered  me  a  church-going  boy,  though 
never  except  in  three  or  four  instances 
was  I  absent  from  church  both  morning 
and  afternoon;  yet  I  did  sin,  did  break 
God's  law,  did  desecrate  the  holy  Sab- 


32  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

bath^  and  sowed  seeds  for  sorrow.  I  had 
indeed  used  my  No,  but  not  strong 
enough,  and  not  in  every  instance  when 
it  should  have  been  used. 

Because  my  fellow  apprentices  thought 
me  too  puritanical,  and  because  they 
would  have  been  more  at  ease  in  their 
own  minds  without  a  Bible-reader  and 
church-goer  in  their  company,  they  la- 
boured more  assiduously  to  get  me  into 
their  net,  and  doubtless  the  devil  helped 
them. 

AFRAID   OF   RIDICULE — PRAYER   NEGLECTED. 

As  I  have  intimated,  I  was  too  much 
afraid  of  ridicule,  and  I  neglected  to  use 
some  of  the  armour  and  weapons  recom- 
mended in  Ephesians  vi. — that  part  espe- 
cially wdiich  is  called  "All-prayer"  by 
Bunyan.     I  had  been   taught  the  duty 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  33 

of  prayer,  of  secret  prayer;  at  home 
I  had  a  bed  room  and  a  closet,  but  now 
what  was  I  to  do?  I  did  do  at  first,  and 
ought  to  have  continued,  what  1  have 
known  pious  sailors  and  soldiers  do.  Sail- 
ors who  have  a  heart  for  prayer,  will  find 
a  place  for  it.  They  can  sometimes  kneel 
in  the  maintop,  or  pray  while  hanging  in 
the  rigging,  or  while  walking  the  decks 
in  their  night  watch.  Godly  soldiers  will 
kneel  beside  their  couches  in  the  crowded 
barracks,  can  commune  with  God  while 
standing  in  their  sentry  box,  or  while 
pacing  up  and  down  before  it,  and  they 
now  and  then  can  seize  a  place  and  time 
for  retirement.  A  person  may  be  a  good 
Christian,  and  lead  a  consistent  life  in  any 
lawful  calling.  But  I  grew  careless  in 
respect  to  prayer.  No  wonder  then  that  I 
sometimes  fell  into  temptation,  and  failed 


34  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

to  escape.  I  did  indeed  have  to  labour 
under  disadvantages,  without  one  serious- 
minded  friend,  and  almost  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  influences  of  an  evil  tendency ; 
but  I  do  not  speak  of  this  as  an  excuse 
for  sin.  The  stronger  the  current  to  evil, 
the  harder  we  must  row  against  it;  others 
have  made  head-way  up  stream,  I  might 
always  have  done  so  by  God's  help. 
To  do  this  was  the  very  thing  my  brother 
and  parents  urged  upon  me,  and  what  I 
had  verily  thought  I  should  do.  I  trusted 
at  first  to  myself  too  much,  and  did  not 
enough  feel  my  need  of  God's  help. 

SOLITARY   WALKS   IN   WINTER. 

When  winter  came,  I  had  to  sit  with  a 
room  full  of  boys  and  men,  whose  conver- 
sation was  unedifying,  if  not  offensive ; 
and  often  in  the  winter  evening  before  or 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO..  35 

after  sermon  have  I  taken  long  walks,  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  avoiding  unpleasant 
company,  and  for  being  alone ;  and  those 
walks  were  not  always  unprofitable,  for 
in  them  I  thought  over  what  I  had  read, 
or  sermons  I  had  heard. 

It  was  my  want  of  courage,  as  I  have 
told  you,  and  now  tell  you  again  because 
I  desire  you  may  be  profited  by  my  ex- 
perience— it  was  my  want  of  courage  that 
subjected  me  to  many  inconveniences. 
I  put  myself  to  studying  sometimes  which 
street  I  should  take  to  get  to  church  and 
not  meet  any  of  my  companions,  lest  they 
might  laugh  at  me,  or  prevail  on  me  to 
go  with  them,  and  sometimes  I  have  been 
headed  here. 


86  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

SEEKING  BY-WAYS  TO  GET   TO  CHURCH  NOT 
GOOD   POLICY. 

Occasionally  they  would  arrange  to  at- 
tend a  church  in  some  distant  part  of  the 
city,  when  I  would  more  easily  be  pre- 
vailed on  to  go  with  them,  but  seldom  en- 
jojed  it,  for  their  conversation  was  not 
profitable  ;  and  let  me  tell  you  further, 
that  my  experience  in  wandering  from 
church  to  church,  has  taught  me  that  I 
ought  here  to  speak  decidedly  against 
the  practice.  Go  regularly  to  your  own 
place  of  worship,  if  you  would  receive  in- 
struction systematically,  and  keep  your 
habits  of  regularity,  and  have  fewer  in- 
terruptions of  devotional  feelings. 

I  very  often  did  wrong,  when  I  knew 
to  do  better  ;  and  I  remembered  my  JVo 
indeed,  but  often  preferred  to  find  some 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  37 

excuse  for  not  accepting  invitations  to  go 
with  companions,  or  would  plead  some 
other  engagement  where  I  had  any,  or 
would  study  too  often  to  avoid  giving  a 
direct  answer.  But  my  experience  taught 
me  that  when  I  employed  the  positive  re- 
fusal to  do  what  conscience  disapproved, 
it  brought  me  by  a  more  direct  and  easy 
road  out  of  trouble. 

BE   TRUTHFUL   AND   BOLD. 

I  WOULD  say  too  in  this  connection,  be 
truthful,  love  the  truth;  and  truth  is 
bold,  out-spoken,  has  nothing  to  do  with 
evasions,  says  yes  or  no  decidedly  where 
it  is  fully  satisfied  in  its  own  mind;  it 
holds  up  its  head,  not  indeed  impudently, 
but  with  assurance  of  its  own  integrity, 
goes  about  its  own  business  in  a  straight- 
forward way,  never  sneaks,  doesn't  ap- 
pear like  one  ashamed. 
4 


38  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

I  will  tell  you,  though  with  shame  I  do 
it — but  my  object,  and  only  object,  is  to 
afford  my  young  readers  any  benefit  that 
ma}^  be  derived  from  my  experience — 1 
will  tell  you  how  I  sometimes  forgot — no, 
not  forgot^  but  neglected  to  say  No,  also 
the  dangers  and  trouble  such  neglect  ex- 
posed me  to. 

SABBATH   BATHING. 

On  Saturday  evening  of  summer  we 
were  accustomed  to  hire  a  small  boat 
and  row  across  the  river  to  bathe.  On 
one  occasion  a  part  of  our  company  was 
not  ready  until  it  was  too  late  for  that 
evening,  but  they  arranged  to  go  early 
the  next  morning,  vey^y  early — they  said, 
before  people  were  up,  and  surely  that 
would  be  no  sin,  they  argued.  They 
did  awake  early,  and  called  me,  and  urged 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  39 

me.  I  complied,  but  reluctantly.  Con- 
science clamoured — flashed  the  command- 
ment before  my  face — passed  before  my 
eyes  the  image  of  father,  mother,  min- 
ister. Sabbath-school  teacher — brought 
fresh  to  mind  some  of  the  narratives  I 
had  read  of  Sabbath-breakers  or  of  Sab- 
bath-breaking and  its  consequences,  and 
bid  me  say  No.  It  reminded  me  that  one 
transgression  leads  to  others,  and  still 
urged  me  to  say  No,  But  I  went,  but 
was  far  from  being  sociable.  I  was  busy 
however  with  my  own  thoughts.  We 
were  across  the  river  by  sun-rise,  and  I 
finished  my  bathing  speedily,  but  the 
others  lingered.  The  water  was  pleasant 
and  the  air  delightful,  but  I  did  not  enjoy 
it,  for  that  was  such  a  breach  of  the  fourth 
commandment  as  1  had  not  fallen  into 
before.  I  was  vexed  with  myself,  and 
heartily  repented  of  what  I  had  done. 


40  LEARN    TO   SAY  NO. 

NARROW  ESCAPE. 

On  our  return  we  were  near  being 
swamped,  by  rowing  the  leaky  skifF, 
which  we  had  that  morning,  into  the 
wake  of  a  steamboat  which  was  coming 
up  the  river,  and  whose  waves  tossed  us 
about  and  nearly  filled  us.  We  began  to 
be  alarmed;  but  one  of  the  company,  a 
vile,  low,  profane  fellow,  and  fool-hardy, 
to  increase  our  alarm  more,  and  shouting 
out  that  he  was  not  afraid,  he  could 
swim,  stood  up  and  with  a  foot  on  each 
side  of  the  boat  began  rocking  her  to 
fill  her  more.  We  were  in  the  channel, 
and  in  great  peril,  but  he  would  not  de- 
sist till  we  were  almost  sinking.  We 
just  reached  the  dock,  and  left  the  boat, 
with  nothing  in  sight  but  her  uppermost 
edge.     We  clambered  up  the  perpendic- 


'  ^'^/a^ 


Oneof  the  company,  a  vile,  profane  fellow,  began  rocking  the  boat  to 


fill  her  more. 


1^.40. 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  41 

ular,  and  wet,  and  slimy  dock,  I  cannot 
exactly  tell  you  how;  but  I  promised 
myself  to  do  no  more  Sabbath  morning 
bathing,  and  if  possible  to  keep  out  of 
any  boat  in  which  that  fellow  might 
be  who  had  so  wickedly  perilled  our 
lives. 


GUIDES. 

One  Sabbath  while  I  was  reading,  a 
shop-mate  came  and  proposed  a  walk ; 
we  would  take  up  such  a  street,  and 
around  and  down  another,  and  he  would 
go  with  me  to  church.  He  was  in  many 
respects  a  pleasant  youth,  we  had  many 
jobs  of  work  together,  were  bed-fellows, 
and  generally  went  in  company  to  and  from 
our  meals.  I  did  not  like  his  proposition, 
but  the  tempter  said, ''  Don't  always  seem 

4* 


42  LEARN   TO   SAY  NO. 

SO  unsocial  on  the  Sabbath,  he's  a  fine 
fellow,  and  you  may  do  him  good  by  get- 
ting him  to  church  with  you,  even  if  you 
do  go  with  him  a  while  first.  What  is  it, 
but  taking  a  little  longer  walk  to  church, 
and  how  many  do  that  for  the  benefit  of  the 
morning  air  ?  "  We  started  off,  both  good 
walkers,  for  we  had  paced  off  many  miles 
of  pavement  before  this  morning.  By-and- 
by  we  were  outside  the  city,  quite  far 
enough  as  I  thought,  and  I  said,  "  Let's 
turn  about."  "  Oh,  no,"  said  my  compan- 
ion, "  it's  not  near  church  time ;  a  little 
further.  Oh,  how  refreshing  to  get  one's 
feet  off  the  stones,  and  this  soft  grass, 
how  nice  to  walk  on  !  we'll  be  back  in 
time,  no  fear."  He  slid  onward,  and  I 
dragged  myself  with  him.  I  knew  I  was 
going  wrong,  every  step  I  went  forward. 
I  was  moreover  disgracing  myself  in  my 


LEARN   TO   SAY  NO.  43 

own  eyes.  The  grass  might  be  soft,  but 
the  paved  walks  to  the  church  would  have 
seemed  softer,  for  now  I  was  treading  on 
the  commandments,  and  I  always  found 
the  way  of  the  transgressor  to  be  hard. 
I  do  not  now  pretend  to  tell  you  what 
the  experience  of  others  may  be,  but  for 
myself,  I  know  there  is  no  pleasure  in 
wickedness,  and  I  believe  that  those  who 
hearken  to  the  commandments  will  find 
their  peace  as  a  river. 

Well,  the  bells  rang  when  we  were 
away — too  far  away,  to  get  back  in  sea- 
son, and  then  what  do  you  think  he  pro- 
posed ?  why  to  go  on  to  the  "  Half-way- 
House  "  and  get  some  refreshment ;  and, 
he  added, "  We  may  as  well  take  the  whole 
day  now;  if  a  fellow  has  to  be  hung, 
it  might  as  well  be  for  a  sheep  as  a  lamb.'* 
But  I  am  thankful  that  I  was  not  brought 


44  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

up  under  that  kind  of  teaching,  and  did 
not  that  morning  adopt  mj  companion's 
system  of  ethics  ;  and  I  was  not  so  much 
troubled  about  the  hanging  part,  as  about 
the  other — the  sin.  But  I  lost  the  morn- 
ing service,  and  did  not  really  enjoy  any 
of  the  Sabbath. 

STEAMBOATING  ON  THE  LORD's  DAY. 

It  should  have  been  a  lesson,  and  I  did 
do  better  for  a  while ;  but  by-and-by  again 
this  same  boy  came  with  a  proposition  to 
take  the  little  morning  boat  for  Troy — we 
would  simply  go  there  to  attend  church — 
we  would  attend  forenoon  and  afternoon, 
and  step  into  the  boat  and  return — we 
could  be  by  ourselves.  This  was  his  plan, 
he  said.  I  refused,  and  had  no  intention  at 
all  that  way.  He  kept  at  me  to  go  with 
him;  I  said  No,  but  he  insisted,  and  I 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  45 

assented,  yes,  and  broke  over  my  own 
No,  walked  rapidly  down  to  the  river  and 
aboard  the  boat,  shutting  my  eyes  to  the 
consequences,  running  over  conscience 
that  stood  up  in  my  way,  and  striking  my 
heels  into  the  commandments.  Neither 
of  us  went  inside  a  church  that  day,  and 
why  should  we?  We  would  only  have 
been  carrying  offerings  to  God's  altar 
which  he  would  have  abhorred.  Going 
to  church,  no  matter  how  many  times, 
could  have  been  no  atonement  for  the  sin 
of  travelling  unnecessarily  on  the  Lord's 
day.  Although  it  is  not  uncommon  for 
people  to  use  such  kind  of  pleas  and  ex- 
cuses for  Sabbath  travelling  and  Sabbath 
visiting.  .  I  have  known  people  drive  ten 
or  a  dozen  miles,  come  up  to  a  meeting- 
house, tie  their  horses,  go  in  and  stay 
through  the  sermon,  come  out,  untie  their 


46  LEARN    TO   SAY  NO. 

horseSj  and  ride  ten  or  a  dozen  miles  fur- 
ther. After  the  same  manner  much  visit- 
ing is  done. 

GOD   can't   be    cheated. 

But  He  with  whom  we  have  to  do  is 
not  to  be  cheated  as  the  heathen  some- 
times cheat  their  gods.  He  will  arraign 
these  people  for  Sabbath-breaking.  He 
will  hear  none  of  their  excuses. 

We  walked  the  streets  of  Troy  that 
holy  Sabbath  day,  and  I  was  glad  when 
it  was  time  for  the  boat  to  leave.  The 
laughing  and  jokes  of  Sunday  excursion- 
ists, the  noise  and  the  fumes  about  the 
bar,  were,  I  may  say,  some  relief  to  me; 
for  my  thoughts  had  been  hot  all  that 
day ;  there  had  been  some  worm  gnawing 
in  my  bosom. 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  47 

PLEASURE-HUNTING  ON  THE  SABBATH  IS  NOT 
REST. 

I  SAID  there  was  no  enjoyment  for  me  in 
Sabbath-breaking.  "  It  is  hard  to  kick 
against  the  pricks,"  and  when  Monday 
came  I  was  not  refreshed.  Say  what  you 
will,  account  for  it  as  you  may,  there  is 
more  refreshing,  recruiting  rest  in  keep- 
ing the  Sabbath  in  holy  duties  and  holy 
pleasures,  than  in  gay  pleasure  parties, 
or  yet  in  sleeping  or  lounging ;  those  who 
have  tried  both  will  tell  you  so,  and  you 
may  see  it  so,  if  you  will  observe  closely. 
This  is  the  day  which  God  has  hallowed 
and  blessed,  and  he  will  make  it  a  bless- 
ing to  those  who  remember  it  to  keep  it 
holy. 

The  boys  now  began  to  feel  that  I  was 
getting  to  be  more  like  one  of  themselves. 


48  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

They  solicited  me  oftener  and  with  more 
importunity,  to  accompany  them  in  their 
Sabbath  rambles.  Once  I  crossed  the 
river  and  strolled  the  entire  afternoon  in 
the  fields,  and  along  the  river  banks. 
Once  down  the  river,  too  far  to  be  back 
by  church  time.  Now  and  then  they  led 
me  along  the  docks,  and  through  streets, 
where  were  sights  and  sounds  altogether 
unfriendly  to  Sabbath  enjoyments. 

At  another  time  I  had  arranged  a  visit 
to  some  friends  in  the  country.  I  was 
to  leave  on  Saturday  afternoon,  but  a  job 
of  work  came  in,  and  all  in  the  shop  were 
busy;  it  could  not  be  done,  unless  I 
would  pull  off  my  coat,  and  roll  up  my 
sleeves  again,  and  the  foreman  talked 
over  it  very  coaxingly.  And  it  was  sug- 
gested to  take  the  early  train  the  next 
"  It  will  take  you  out  by  ten 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  49 

o'clock,"  they  said.  How  I  could  make 
up  my  mind  to  do  that  wickedness  I  don't 
well  understand ;  but  I  well  remember  that 
I  kept  myself  as  much  occupied  as  possi- 
ble, so  as  not  to  be  thinking  at  all  about 
Sabbath  travelling,  its  wickedness,  and 
the  dangers  attending  it. 

ATTEMPT  TO  CUT  A  PIECE  OFF  THE  LORD'S  DAY, 
AS   MEN   FILE  OFF   THE  RIMS   OF  COINS. 

In  the  morning  very  early  I  was  at 
the  cars,  trying  to  satisfy  my  conscience 
with  the  idea  that  we  w^ould  run  out  very 
quick,  and  not  break  the  Sabbath  very 
ladly ;  though  all  the  time  I  knew,  and 
knew  as  well  as  if  it  had  been  spoken  out 
of  the  skies  into  my  own  ears,  that  it 
was  just  as  much  a  breach  of  the  fourth 
commandment   to   travel    from   sun-rise 

5 


50  LEAKN   TO    SAY   NO. 

till  ten  o'clock,  as  from  sun- rise  till  sun- 
set. 

That  morning,  however,  I  was  not  so 
much  labouring  to  find  excuses,  nor  so 
much  promising  myself  that  I  would  not 
do  so  again,  as  I  was  labouring  to  feel, 
as  well  as  to  appear,  indifferent.  You  see 
that  I  was  getting  along  fearfully  in  the 
downward  course;  the  devil  must  have 
been  well  satisfied  with  my  proficiency, 
and  with  my  appearance  that  morning. 
He  congratulated  himself  no  doubt  that 
that  No^  which  for  some  time  seemed  to 
stand  in  his  way,  would  not  much  longer 
interfere  with  his  doing  just  as  he  might 
please  with  me. 

SUNDAY  TRAVELLERS  IN  TROUBLE. 

But  there  were  strong  hearts  praying 
for   me,  I  suspect,   and   I   don't  know, 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  51 

whether  an  angel  of  the  Lord  was  com- 
missioned to  trouble  us;  but  we  were 
troubled  nearly  all  that  day,  and  I  suspect 
that  if  the  engineer  and  others  managing 
the  cars  had  been  like  the  crew  of  that 
ship  which  was  once  going  from  Joppa  to 
Tarshish,  they  would  have  inquired  "for 
whose  cause  the  evil  came  upon  them/' 
and  I  might  have  been  treated  as  those 
mariners  treated  Jonah,  and  it  would  have 
been  serving  me  right.  I  said  we  were 
troubled — the  Lord  troubled  us;  he  did 
not  just  take  off  our  chariot  wheels,  but 
he  made  them  drive  heavily.  The  engine 
would  not  work,  and  the  engineer  seemed 
not  to  know  what  was  ailing  it.  Some 
of  the  way,  the  passengers  were  out  push- 
ing the  cars,  and  even  the  engine  itself. 
I  had  leisure  for  observation  and  reflec- 
tion.    The  passengers  in  my  little  apart- 


52  LEARN   TO    SAY    NO. 

ment  of  those  first  old  fashioned  cars, 
like  the  old  coach,  were  such  as  might  be 
expected  to  leave  the  city  on  a  Sabbath 
morning.  "Pretty  companions!"  some- 
thing whispered.  ^^  Would  you  choose 
such  company  to  spend  eternity  with?" 

A  SEAT  WITH  THE  SCORNFUL SUNDAY  TRAVEL- 
LERS, SEE  WHO  ARE  YOUR  COMPANIONS. 

I  REMEMBERED  what  I  had  heard  my 
father  once  say  about  "sitting  in  the  seat 
of  the  scornful."  Something  was  inquir- 
ing of  my  heart  how  I  was  getting  on  with 
my  lesson  now — that  lesson,  Learn  to  say 
No.  This  suggested  other  topics.  I 
thought  of  that  older  brother  with  all  the 
family — they  all  going  up  to  the  courts 
of  the  Lord's  house,  and  I,  who  if  at 
home  would  have  been  with  them  in  the 
sanctuary,  was  now  with  my  shoulder  to 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  63 

the  stern  of  a  railroad  car  and  my  feet 
sinking  in  the  hot  sand.  And  how  would 
your  friends  be  pleased  with  these  your 
associates?  something  asked. 

We  reached  Schenectady  at  last,  but 
not  till  long  after  the  train  had  left  that 
place.  I  wandered  some  about  the  city. 
It  was  still,  and  the  very  stillness  re- 
buked my  profanation  of  the  day  of  rest. 
The  walls  and  pavements  seemed  to  up- 
braid me  as  a  young  Sabbath  traveller,  who 
could  show  no  reasons  at  all  for  stealing 
God's  time,  and  for  setting  his  law  at  de- 
fiance. It  was  about  dark  when  we 
reached  the  village  for  which  I  had 
started.  Had  I  been  carrying  off  stolen 
goods,  I  wouldn't  have  thought  more 
meanly  of  myself.  My  good  aunt,  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Episcopal  church, 

did  not  receive  me  so  cordially  as  had 
6* 


54  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

been  her  wont.  I  knew  what  her  thoughts 
were,  and  why  she  wore  that  look  of 
regret. 

That  was  the  last  of  my  Sabbath 
travelling,  and  by  God's  help  the  record 
shall  stand  so — it  shall  be  the  last. 

SHOW   IVIE  THE   FIRST  PERSON   THAT  HAS   BEEN 
REFORMED  BY  THE  THEATRE. 

My  shopmates  were  nearly  all  theatre- 
goers. I  steadily  answered  with  No  to 
all  invitations  and  banters  to  accompany 
them,  except  on  three  or  four  occasions : 
such  as  on  a  holiday  night,  when  the 
play  was  advertised  to  be  of  a  moral 
bearing,  or  when  some  grand  performer 
was  to  appear  in  a  masterpiece.  The  No 
was  called  for  at  these  times  as  well  as 
at  others,  but  was  put  off  by  some  trivial 
excuse :  such  as,  "  Isn't  it  well  enough  for 


LEAR^    TO    SAY   NO.  55 

a  person  to  see  for  himself  once,  and  be 
able  to  speak  from  personal  knowledge, 
even  if  he  is  satisfied  already  that  the 
thing  is  bad  ?"  But  that  was  a  mere  sub- 
terfuge. 1  knew,  as  well  as  I  needed  to 
know,  that  the  theatre  was  an  evil,  and 
only  evil  with  nothing  good ;  and  he  who 
wishes  to  prove  it  so  need  only  point  to 
those  who  have  been  educated  there,  or 
only  gone  for  their  accomplishments  to 
that  school.  I  could  every  day  see  in  the- 
atre-goers generally,  that  in  the  theatre 
there  could  be  nothing  elevating,  or  refin- 
ing, or  purifying,  or  very  instructive ;  for 
those  most  devoted  to  this  kind  of 
amusement,  or  "school  of  morals"  as 
some  have  called  it,  were  sinking  the 
fastest  as  to  morals,  and  respectability ; 
bad  habits  were  strengthening  in  them, 
and  new  vices  were  daily  learned. 


66  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

After  a  few  trials  I  was  more  thoroughly 
convinced  that  there  was  no  good  to  be 
gained  at  such  places,  and  was  mercifully 
preserved  from  acquiring  a  passion  for 
this  kind  of  dissipation. 

LOTTERY   GAMBLING. 

Lottery  offices  at  that  time  abounded. 
Great  bay-windows  were  filled  with  gay 
coloured  tickets,  and  the  newspapers  had 
their  long  advertisements.  My  earliest 
knowledge  and  impression  of  lotteries  was 
respecting  the  sinfulness  of  this  as  well 
as  all  other  species  of  gambling,  and  of 
the  ruin,  immediate  or  more  remote,  which 
they  cause  to  all  their  votaries.  I  de- 
spised them,  had  not  the  slightest  idea 
of  ever  being  drawn  to  speculate  in  them, 
and  seldom  even  had  either  a  sleeping  or 
waking  dream  of  some  day  finding  my- 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  57 

self  suddenly  made  rich  by  their  agency. 
But  once,  while  passing  an  office,  I  stopped 
a  few  moments  to  read  at  the  window 
the  prizes,  the  numbers  which  had  been 
drawn,  and  immediately  the  tempter,  per- 
haps the  devil  himself,  was  at  m}^  elbow. 
No  man  solicited  me,  and  nobody  knew 
of  my  dealing  in  this  line  but  the  ticket- 
vender  and  myself;  but  I  had  a  tempter, 
and  he  said,  "  Come  now,  buy  a  ticket,  get 
some  of  the  money  from  these  fellows." 
"No,  what  folly  !"  said  I.  "  But  see,"  said 
the  tempter,  "  a  few  loose  shillings  will  buy 
a  small  chance,  and  that  chance  may  be  the 
lucky  one,— and  would  you  refuse  to  take 
the  dollars,  if  your  ticket  should  draw 
them  T  How  easily  he  pulled  the  band- 
age over  my  eyes,  and  led  me  captive  ! 
He  hurried  me  in  before  I  might  have  time 
to   reflect.     The   shillings  went   on  the 


58  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

counter,  and  the  little  piece  of  figured 
paper  into  my  pocket,  and  he  sent  me  on 
my  way  building  castles  in  the  air. 

BLANKS  DRAWN,  AND  CASTLE-BUILDING 
STOPPED. 

Perhaps  half-a-dozen  tickets,  or  shares 
of  tickets,  were  purchased  at  as  many 
times,  but  all  drew  blanks,  and  what  a 
mercy  that  it  was  so !  Could  the  devil 
have  had  his  own  way,  no  doubt  he  would 
have  baited  me  a  little  better.  But  one 
day  the  folly,  wickedness,  and  danger  of 
this  kind  of  business  all  rose  up  together 
before  my  mind,  and  shamed  and  fright- 
ened me,  and  never  afterwards  was  my 
foot  over  the  threshold  of  a  lottery  office. 

Will  my  young  friends  heed  my  advice, 
and  say  JYo  unreservedly  to  every  spe- 
cies of  gambling  ?     The  habit  is  insinua- 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  59 

ting,  the  influence  on  the  mind  exciting, 
tending  to  produce  disgust  of  labour  and 
of  slow  gains^  Let  betting  alone  ;  go  to  no 
raffles  or  shooting-matches  ;  card-playing 
is  an  accomplishment  which  a  man  can 
afford  to  say  he  never  learned.  Be  con- 
tent not  even  ever  to  have  seen  the  inside 
of  those  houses  which  are  called  by  the 
name  of  that  place  into  which  all  the 
wicked  shall  be  gathered.  The  sin  of 
gaming  is  great,  the  company  such  kind  of 
sporting  would  bring  you  into  is  of  a  low 
order — the  idle  and  dissolute  in  every  re- 
spect. Mark  who  they  are  that  go  in  and 
out  at  the  billiard-rooms,  the  nine-pin 
alleys,  and  other  kindred  places  :  fellows 
with  foul  language,  lovers  of  strong  drink, 
of  late  hours,  companions  of  abandoned 
women,  and  who  can  tell  you  how  the 
inside  of  the  "lock  up"  looks. 


60  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 


ONE  SIN  OPENS  THE  WAY  FOR  A  LEGION. 

A  FEW  instances  have  h^en  given  in 
which  my  JS^o  was  forgotten  or  laid  aside ; 
but  do  not  suppose  I  am  intimating  that 
these  which  are  mentioned  were  my  only 
sins.  Ah,  no  !  How  often  did  God  see 
my  transgressions,  and  how  much  wick- 
edness was  there  in  the  heart,  which  had 
not  yet  shown  itself  outwardly!  The 
design  in  giving  these  few  examples  is, 
to  show  you  how  much  I  lost  in  every 
respect  by  not  doing  always  as  my  pa- 
rents had  taught  me,  as  that  good  brother 
charged  me,  and  as  the  word  of  God  and 
conscience  instructed  me.  You  perceive 
that  the  more  I  yielded,  the  more  I  was 
expected  to  yield ;  the  more  my  tempt- 
ers obtained,  the  more  the}^  demanded  : 
you  see  how  one  sin  laid  the  way  open 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  61 

for  others.  I  would  impress  you  with 
the  fact  that  I  was  happy  and  prospered, 
according  as  I  endeavoured  to  do  right, 
hut  unhappy  in  proportion  as  I  turned 
aside  from  the  right  way. 

ASHAMED   OF   CHRIST. 

And  let  me  call  your  attention  again 
to  my  experience  in  seeking  back  streets' 
to  get  to  meeting ;  not  that  this  was  al- 
ways done,  but  often.  That  was  not  even 
good  policy ;  it  worked  evil  rather  than 
good.  I  would  not  have  you  make  Phari- 
sees of  yourselves  indeed,  and  blow  your 
trumpets  to  call  people  to  see  how  reli- 
gious you  are  ;  but  religion  is  not  a  mat- 
ter to  be  ashamed  of,  and  when  one  is  in 
the  way  of  duty,  let  him  go  straight  for- 
ward, whoever  may  see,  or  whatever  may 
be  said  of  him.  And  I  wish  you  to  know 

6 


62  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

how  my  experience  taught  me  that  there 
is  nothing  gained,  but  much  lost  by  this 
being  ashamed  of  Christ — ashamed  of 
Christ,  I  say,  for  it  is  nothing  else.  And 
whosoever  is  ashamed  of  Christ,  of  him 
Christ  will  be  ashamed.  Such  a  disciple 
will  have  a  thousand  fold  more  trouble 
than  the  bold  one.  He  that  is  ashamed 
of  his  religion  also  loses  self-respect ;  suf- 
fers much  in  his  own  mind,  and  is  less 
esteemed  by  others  ;  while  the  bold  dis- 
ciple daily  gets  a  stronger  heart,  has 
comfort  in  his  soul,  enjoys  the  blessing 
of  God,  and  men  honour  him. 

NOT  SAFE  TO  DEPEND  ENTIEELY  ON  ONE'S 
OWN  RESOLUTION. 

And  let  me  say  further,  that  you  must 
not  understand  me  as  teaching  that  one's 
character  and  fortune  depend  entirely  on 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  63 

his  own  resolutioii  and  perseverance  in 
the  way  of  well  doing,  and  on  his  own 
strength  in  resisting  temptation ;  for,  see 
how  it  was  in  those  cases  which  have  been 
mentioned.  I  went  into  those  sins  with 
my  eyes  open,  resisting  the  clamours  of 
conscience,  and  the  advice  of  my  judg- 
ment. I  shudder  now  in  thinking  what 
I  did,  and  on  what  slippery  places  my 
feet  were  standing ;  for  the  inquiry  arises, 
Why  did  I  not  yield  to  other  tempta- 
tions ?  what  prevented  me  from  falling  into 
many  other  sins  ?  and,  when  once  started 
in  the  down-hill  course,  what  saved  me 
from  sliding  to  the  bottom  ?  I  asked  my- 
self, what  saved  me  from  graduating  a 
desperate  gambler?  what  saved  me  from 
the  love  of  liquor,  and  from  tumbling  long 
ago  into  the  drunkard's  grave  ?  Why  was 
I  not  lost  in  the  pollutions  of  carnal  in- 


64  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

dulgence  ?  What  saved  me  from  the  addi- 
tional defilement  which  accumulates  on 
every  person  that  pours  out  oaths  and 
curses  through  his  throat? 

COVENANT   BLESSINGS. 

My  young  friends,  allow  me  to  give 
my  opinion  on  this  question,  and  then,  if 
you  wish,  we  wdll  hear  yours.  There  was 
an  eye — an  eye  that  never  sleeps — the  eye 
of  a  covenant-keeping  God  following  me 
— my  father's  God;  and  His  care  was 
over  me.  That,  and  nothing  else,  saved 
me  from  ruin.  There  were  treasured  up 
near  the  mercy-seat,  many  prayers  on  my 
account,  and  many  tears  in  bottles.  Pa- 
rents with  brothers  and  sisters  were  pray- 
ing for  me  still.  Moreover  there  is  some- 
thing in  that  covenant,  I  believe,  which 
had  its  influence  in  my  behalf — that  cove- 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  65 

nant  in  which  the  children  of  believing 
parents  are  consecrated  to  God.  I  was 
a  child  of  believing  parents^  they  relied  on 
the  covenant  and  never  forgot  to  plead  it ; 
their  fiiith  was  strong ;  they  never  gave 
me  up  nor  wearied  in  prayer — thanks  be 
to  God  for  such  parents  ! — and  still  they 
live  to  pray.  Their  eyes,  it  is  true,  could 
not  see  me,  nor  were  their  arms  long 
enough  to  reach  and  to  guard  me  ;  but, 
what  was  better,  yes,  inconceivably  bet- 
ter, their  prayers  could  reach  God's  throne 
— the  throne  of  that  God  who  has  covenant 
blessings  for  the  children  of  his  people. 

BACKSLIDING    AND   ITS    FRUITS. 

There  is  still  another  consideration 
which  has  weight  in  my  own  mind;  per- 
haps it  may  be  introduced  here,  though 
all  may  not  view  it  as  it  is  viewed  by  me. 

6* 


66  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

Some  time  previous  to  my  leaving 
home,  during  a  revival  of  religion  in  our 
church,  I  trusted  that  I  experienced  a 
change  of  heart ;  and  still  I  think  it  was 
so.  But  ah,  how  shameful  and  fearful 
w^as  my  backsliding!  How  did  I  deny 
my  Master  !  and  many  tears  and  bitter 
sorrows  has  that  backsliding  caused  me. 
But  if  I  then  became  one  of  Christ's  flock, 
I  find  here  a  reason  why  I  was  not  suf- 
fered to  wander  entirely  away,  for  he 
loses  none  that  have  been  given  to  him; 
and  though  Satan  may  sift  them,  he  will 
not  quite  get  them,  for  Jesus  has  prayed 
for  them,  and  is  still  their  prevalent  inter- 
cessor. 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  67 

DEFERRING  TO  UNITE  WITH  THE  CHURCH,  AND 
THE  EVIL  CONSEQUENCES. 

I  NEGLECTED  Uniting  with  the  people 
of  God,  though  I  was  urged  to  it,  and 
knew  it  to  be  a  duty.  But  I  did  not  feel 
quite  sure  that  I  was  a  Christian,  and  I 
was  yet  young;  could  a  boy,  I  said  to 
myself,  always  conduct  with  the  sobriety 
required  of  a  church-member  ?  Besides,  I 
shrunk  from  the  publicity  of  such  an  act 
as  making  a  public  profession  of  religion ; 
rather,  I  had  better  say  in  plain  English, 
I  was  still  too  much  ashamed  of  Christ ; 
and  hence  the  source — shall  I  say  of  all? — 
certainly  the  source  of  a  large  share  of 
my  troubles ;  for  had  I  come  to  the  city 
as  a  church-member,  though  young,  and 
had  I  put  myself  under  the  care  of  the 
officers  of  the  church,  they,  it  is  to  be  pre- 


68  LEARN   TO   SAY  NO. 

sumed,  for  that  is  their  duty,  would  have 
watched  me  as  fathers,  and  I  would 
have  had  friends  and  associates  such  as  I 
needed,  would  have  been  introduced  to  a 
Sabbath-school,  and  have  enjoyed  all 
church  influences,  and  had  fewer  tempta- 
tions. There  is  more  safety  within  the  in- 
closure  of  the  fold,  but  dangers  are  thick 
everywhere  outside.  Or  had  the  practice 
which  prevails  in  some  of  the  Scotch 
churches  been  the  practice  here,  that  is, 
of  giving  letters  of  dismission  or  of  intro- 
duction, at  least  to  those  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  church  by  baptism,  when  they 
remove  to  live  within  the  bounds  of  an- 
other church,  that  would  have  been  a 
help  for  me.        ■ 

The  young  people  who  may  read  this 
will,  I  hope,  avoid  my  mistake,  and  for 
themselves,    wherever   Providence   may 


LEARN   TO    SAY  NO.  69 

cast  their  lot,  in  the  first  place  inquire 
where  their  shepherd  feeds  his  flock, 
where  he  makes  them  rest,  and  ever  be 
found  with  them. 

MY  EXPERIENCE — HOW  I  READ  IT. 

My  past  experience  is  a  book  which  I 
often  find  myself  turning  over;  and  at 
certain  passages  I  stop  and  wonder.  I 
sometimes  find  myself  asking,  why  that 
covenant-keeping  God  did  permit  me  to 
fall  sometimes,  and  restrain  me  at  others. 
I  do  not  know  indeed  all  the  reasons. 
But  parents  do  suffer  their  children  some- 
times to  hurt  themselves  a  little  that  they 
may  learn  caution ;  and  God's  discipline 
of  his  children  will  be  such  as  to  show 
them  that  their  strength  is  in  him,  that 
their  own  strength  is  weakness.  God 
would  teach  his  people  humility.     David 


70  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

went  with  his  head  bowed  down  ever 
after  his  fall,  having  his  sin  ever  before 
him,  crying,  and  teaching  us  also  to  cry, 
"  Have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God." 

Every  Christian,  I  suppose,  will  have 
something  more  or  less,  to  remind  him 
of  his  own  weakness — something  to  re- 
mind him  that  there  is  such  a  thing 
as  native  depravity,  and  to  make  him 
ashamed  of  it. 

And,  if  ever  we  are  disposed  to  be 
hard  upon  those  who  have  fallen  into  sin, 
it  will  be  well  to  call  to  mind  how  much 
we  have  been  forgiven. 

Christ  could  forgive  Peter — he  spake 
kindly  to  the  woman  whom  all  the  people 
were  ready  to  stone. 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  71 

MY  father's  visit. 

After  a  residence  in  the  city  of  some- 
thing over  a  year,  my  father  visited  me. 
He  came,  as  I  remember,  on  the  Fourth 
of  July.  I  was  spending  a  part  of  the 
afternoon  in  the  Museum,  and  you  may 
imagine  how  surprised  I  was  to  find  him 
at  my  boarding-house,  when  I  retm^ned 
to  supper.  I  was  glad  enough  not  to  be 
found  in  worse  employment.  He  spent 
the  following  day  with  me,  and  was  pleased 
to  learn  that  I  aimed  to  be  present  at 
least  once  every  Sabbath,  and  often  twice, 
at  Dr.  S.'s  church.  And  then  his  heart 
was  set  on  going  with  me  to  the  Dr.'s 
house.  But  I  was  not  prepared  for  that, 
and  multiplied  excuses,  and  could  not  be 
prevailed  on  to  go ;  and  how  sorry  I  have 
since  been  for  all  that  sort  of  bashfulness ! 


72  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

At  a  later  period,  when  I  had  become  a 
member  of  that  church,  1  once  told  the 
excellent  pastor  of  this  circumstance, 
how  my  father  had  tried  to  bring  me  to 
his  house,  and  put  me  under  his  care. 
He  expressed,  as  you  may  suppose,  much 
regret  that  my  father  had  failed  of  ac- 
complishing his  wish. 

After  this  an  old  neighbour,  a  deacon 
of  the  church  of  which  my  parents  were 
members,  and  who  had  ever  shown  much 
anxiety  for  ni}^  spiritual  welfare,  was 
passing  through  the  city  and  sent  for  me 
to  his  lodgings.  His  theme  on  this  occa- 
sion, was  the  danger  of  a  youth  from  home^ 
and  "  The  One  Thing  Needful." 

VISIT   HOME. 

Not  long  afterwards  I  visited  home 
agreeably  to  an  arrangement  made  by 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  73 

my  father  while  in  the  city.  All  these 
visits  were  serviceable.  The  faithful 
counsel  they  afforded  me  —  the  home 
scenes — family  worship,  and  its  old  les- 
sons revived — the  thoughts  of  my  own 
heart — the  contrasting  the  order  and  hap- 
piness of  a  godly  house  with  those  houses  I 
had  been  in,  and  with  what  I  myself  might 
become,  unless  I  should  get  out  of  those 
by-roads  into  which  I  had  turned  aside — 
these  were,  at  least,  as  brakes  to  the 
wheels ;  they  checked  somewhat  the  ve- 
locity downwards. 

NO,  AND   WHAT   IT   DID. 

But,  my  young  friends,  learn  to  say  JVo. 
It  is  good  advice,  and  did  me  good  service 
after  all,  for  I  never  quite  lost  sight  of  it. 
Though  I  often  lay  on  my  oars,  and  suf- 
fered myself  to  be  carried  down  stream, 

7 


74  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

it  was  not  so  all  the  time ;  the  sight  of 
whirlpools,  or  the  loud  alarms  of  conscience, 
or  a  friendly  voice,  would  startle  me,  and 
stir  me  up  to  recover,  if  possible,  what 
had  been  lost.  Have  patience  then,  (if 
you  can  endure  so  much  discoursing  about 
one's  self,)  and  I  will  tell  you  some  of  the 
achievements  of  that  little  word  when  duly 
honoured^  and  legitimately  employed. 

THE   BALL   PLAY. 

It  was  in  the  spring  season,  after  we  had 
been  shut  within  the  city  during  a  long 
winter,  when  the  snow  had  gone,  and  the 
grass  was  green,  the  blossoms  were  on 
the  trees,  and  some  of  the  birds  had  re- 
turned, and  so  many  things  in  the  coun- 
try were  inviting.  On  a  bright  Sabbath 
day  of  this  charming  season,  ni}^  fellow 
apprentices  had  arranged  for  a  ball  play  in 


LEARN   TO   SAY  NO.  75 

the  country.  I  had  heard  nothing  of  it 
till  on  my  return  from  church,  when  I 
found  them  waiting  for  dinner  and  full 
of  talk  about  their  anticipated  sport. 

Dinner  was  hurried  through,  for  they 
were  impatient  to  be  away  to  the  green 
meadows,  and  I  must  go  along,  they  said. 
But  I  said  No.  One  insisted,  and  then 
another  insisted,  and  then  all  together,  de- 
claring that  I  must  go,  and  should  go, 
they  could  not  make  up  the  game  with- 
out me — and  hadn't  I  had  enough  of  the 
inside  of  the  town  during  all  the  winter  ? 
^'  Come  and  snuff  a  little  pure  air,  come 
and  have  a  little  sport  once  in  your  life  ; 
w4io  would  shut  himself  up  inside  of  brick 
walls  on  such  a  splendid  day  ?  Come  on, 
wdiat  was  a  fellow  made  for,  if  not  to  en- 
joy himself  ?  Won't  you  come?"  "i\V 
I  said,  and  kept  my  eyes  on  my  reading, 
for  while  they  were  getting  their  hats  I 


70  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

had  taken  my  book,  and  had  seated  my- 
self by  a  window.  At  last  the  oldest  and 
largest  of  the  company  took  hold  of  me, 
and  says,  "  You  shall  come."  "  No,''  said 
I.  Hereupon  he  dismissed  me  with  an 
oath,  and  added,  "  You  must  have  been 
brought  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord."  They  all  turned  and  bolted 
out  noisily  into  the  street,  leaving  me  to 
my  book  and  my  moping,  as  they  termed 
it,  but  really  to  enjoy  a  more  happy  Sab- 
bath afternoon  than  I  had  seen  for  a  long 
time. 

WHAT    SHAKING   DOES   FOR   THE   TREES. 

A  TREE  in  an  exposed  situation  will  be 
found  to  have  larger  and  longer  roots 
than  trees  which  are  in  the  forest ;  for 
the  more  a  tree  is  shaken,  (if  if  is  not 
thrown  over,)  the  deeper  and  wider  it 
throws  its  roots,  and  the  sturdier  it  grows. 


The  oldest  and  largest  of  the  company  took  hold  of  me  and  said. 
•You  shall  come;' 'No,  said  I.'"  p  76. 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  77 

I  had  been  shaken  again  that  day,  but 
not  thrown  down,  and  I  began  to  feel 
firmer,  to  stand  up  straighter,  to  be  more 
of  a  man.  Even  that  profane  reference 
to  having  been  "  brought  up  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord,''  did  me  good  ; 
it  sent  a  thrill  to  my  heart ;  it  awakened 
in  me  the  remembrance  of  honours  which 
I  inherited,  better  than  those  of  any  titled 
family ;  it  reminded  me  that  I  was  a  son 
of  those  who  are  "  a  royal  priesthood,  a 
holy  nation,  a  peculiar  people ; "  and 
it  carried  with  it  an  appeal  not  to  dis- 
grace my  parentage  any  more.  "  You 
must  have  been  brought  up  in  the  nur- 
ture and  admonition  of  the  Lord,"  kept 
ringing,  with  a  pleasant  sound,  in  my  ears 
all  that  afternoon,  and  hardly  a  week  has 
passed  since  then,  but  I  have  thought  of  it. 


78  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

THE   PIOUS  JOURNEYMAN.      THE   BIBLE   CLASS. 

The  boys  hurried  to  their  sport,  and  I 
soon  afterwards  bent  my  steps  in  another 
direction,  to  meet  with  a  Bible  class ;  for 
I  must  tell  you  about  a  journeyman  that 
had  come  to  town,  and  found  work  in 
our  shop.  There  was  something  in  him 
that  attracted  me — something  in  his  man- 
ners, and  even  in  the  expression  he  wore 
in  his  face,  and  yet  more  in  his  manner 
of  speaking,  which  showed  that  he  was  a 
man  that  feared  God.  I  took  opportuni- 
ties of  being  alone  w^ith  him,  and  without 
much  delay  ascertained  that  he  was  a 
professor  of  religion,  had  united  by  letter 
with  Mr.  K.'s  church,  had  already  joined 
a  Bible  class  there,  and  he  invited  me  to 
go  with  him  on  the  next  Sabbath.  His 
invitation  was  gladly  accepted. 


LEARN  TO   SAY  NO.  79 


That  pious  journeyman !  he  was  as  a 
od  ai 
reward. 


good  angel  to  me.     He  will  not  lose  his 


THE    SLEIGH   RIDE. 

I  WAS  to  tell  you  something  of  the  good 
service  No  did  me.  On  a  certain  winter 
evening  when  the  sleighing  was  good,  the 
bells  on  the  horses  rang  out  cheerily  in 
the  clear  air  of  the  star-lighted  night, 
and  the  eight  o'clock  bell  had  just  rung 
out  the  welcome  intelhgence  to  many 
waiting  ears  that  the  labours  for  the  day 
might  cease  ;  a  company  of  young  fellows 
full  of  glee,  already  in  their  overcoats, 
came  stamping  up  the  stairs  and  towards 
me — their  sleigh  was  at  the  door  with  a 
vacant  seat  for  me — would  I  go  ?  The 
blood  in  all  my  veins  felt  a  new  stimulus ; 
the  memories  of  other  days  were  awakened 


80  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

— days  when  to  hold  the  reins  was  my 
privilege,  and  when  discretionary  powers 
as  to  the  use  of  the  whip  were  lodged 
with  me.  There  was  not  a  delay  of  many 
minutes  till  we  were  together  amongst 
the  buffalo  robes,  and  the  horses,  which 
seemed  to  have  caught  the  spirit  of  the 
lads  behind  them,  made  the  houses  and 
lamp-posts  march  in  more  than  double 
quick  time  to  our  rear.  Soon  we  hove 
in  sight  of  a  "  half-way-house."  "  Let's 
warm,''  said  the  driver.  "  Let's  warm,' 
said  the  boys.  "  What'll  you  have?" 
said  the  bar-tender.  ^'Whiskey-punch, 
and  hot  too,"  said  the  boj^s.  I  was  de- 
termined to  get  no  other  warming  than 
such  as  the  cherry-red  coal  stove  would 
afford ;  but  two  other  arms  were  locked 
in  mine,  and  I  was  marched  up  to  the  bar, 
as   policemen   are  wont   to  show   their 


LEARN   TO    SAY  NO.  81 

friends  politely  to  the  lock-up.     I  sipped 
part  of  a  glass  of  punch. 

TARRY  NOT  AT  THE  WINE  CUP. 

Too  soon  we  came  to  another  tavern. 
And  surely  we  were  likely  to  stop  often 
enough,  for  each  one  in  the  company  must 
have  an  opportunity  to  "treat."  But  I 
was  determined  to  resist  all  other  at- 
tempts to  make  me  drink.  No  more  punch 
or  hot-stuff  passed  into  my  mouth  that 
night,  but  when  I  "  treated,"  I  sought  to 
furnish  the  eatables.  The  result  was  that 
I  could  not  sing,  nor  help  them  to  make 
the  night  hideous  with  shouts  and  empty 
laughs.  This  vexed  them,  and  they  de- 
clared they  would  never  again  invite  me 
to  a  sleigh-ride,  unless  I  could  get  drunk 
too.  No  helped  to  save  me  that  night 
from  acting  the  fool,  and  from  a  sick  sto- 


82  LEARN   TO    SAY  NO. 

mach,  from  a  sore  head  the  next  morn- 
ing, and  a  sorer  conscience;  and  saved 
me  from  future  solicitations  of  the  same 
kind. 

Be  advised  to  say  No  to  the  wine  cup, 
to  the  beer  cup,  and  that  positively. 
Make  no  compromises  here.  ^'Wine  is 
a  mocker,"  and  strong  drink,  in  any  of 
the  mixtures,  and  under  any  name,  is  only 
raging  still.  Total  abstinence  cannot  in- 
jure, but  may  save  you.  Indulgence  can 
do  you  no  manner  of  good,  and  may  ruin 
you. 

AVOII)   IMPURITY. 

In  cities,  especially,  there  are  swarms 
of  those  wretched  beings  whose  houses 
are  the  way  to  hell,  going  down  to  the 
chambers  of  death.  Concerning  them,  I 
never  had  anything  but  horror  and  dis- 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  83 

• 

gust,  mingled  with  pity  indeed,  and  al- 
ways avoided  them — turned  far  out  of 
their  way.  But  thousands  better  than 
I,  have  been  taken  in  their  net ;  then  how 
can  I  sufficiently  praise  the  good  hand 
of  my  God  upon  me  by  which  I  was  kept ! 
In  respect  to  every  form  of  temptation 
of  this  nature,  be  decided,  yea,  religiously 
scrupulous.  Defile  not  your  fingers  with 
any  filthy  books,  nor  suffer  your  souls  to 
gather  more  defilement  by  the  sight  of 
obscene  pictures.  Flee  all  youthful  lusts. 
Like  Joseph  in  Potiphar's  house,  run 
away,  rmli  away  from  temptation,  saying, 
"  How  can  I  do  this  great  wickedness  and 
sin  against  God?''  Allow  no  impure 
thoughts,  like  slimy  snakes,  to  crawl  into 
your  mind.  Keep  your  body  holy  as  a 
temple  for  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  remem- 
ber that  it  is  the  "pure  in  heart  that 
shall  see  God." 


'84  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

HOW  NO    MAY  HELP  IN   GAINING  KNOWLEDGE. 

I  HAVE  reason  to  think  well  of  my  bro- 
ther's counsel,  and  of  that  little  monosyl- 
lable, of  whose  history  I  have  been  speak- 
ing somewhat ;  I  have  reason  to  think 
well  of  it,  for  it  helped  me  to  some  know- 
ledge which  otherwise  might  not  have 
been  acquire^.  I  had  been  brought  up 
in  habits  of  economy,  and  used  to  gather 
up  the  fragments  of  time  as  well  as  the 
fragments  of  other  things,  and  had  been 
taught  to  improve  the  rainy  days  and 
evening  hours,  and  to  fill  up  all  odd  mo- 
ments with  useful  reading;  and  when  I 
left  home,  it  was  with  many  charges  never 
to  be  without  some  profitable  book  ;  "  they 
are  generally  the  safest  and  least  expen- 
sive company,"  they  said.  And  so  on 
coming  to  the  city,  I  looked  about  for 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  85 

books,  but  they  were  scarce,  both  in  the 
shop,  and  at  the  boarding-house.  The 
book-stores  looked  inviting,  and  1  was 
ready  to  envy  the  clerks  who  lived 
amongst  books.  I  resolved  to  buy,  as 
long  as  my  shillings  would  hold  out.  My 
first  purchase  was  Paley's  Evidences  of 
Christianity ;  my  second.  Watts  on  the 
Mind ;  these  I  studied.  Then  Paley's 
Natural  Theology — Hawes's  Lectures  to 
Young  Men — Franklin's  Life  and  his  Wri- 
tings, and  many  other  books ;  I  needn't 
repeat  the  titles  of  them.  By-and-by  I 
brought  home  a  Natural  Philosophy,  then 
a  Chemistry,  and  entertained  myself  with 
these.  "What  dull  things  are  these  you 
have  ?"  said  the  boys.  "  Come  for  a  walk ; 
it's  long  enough  for  us  to  be  shut  up  du- 
ring working  hours ;  let's  have  a  little  fun," 
said  they.   "  iVb,"  said  I.    Evening  after 

8 


8Q  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

evening  tliey  were  tramping  over  the  city, 
seeing  sights,  racing  after  every  novelty, 
into  the  saloons  and  oyster  cellars,  play- 
ing chess  or  dominoes,  looking  after  steam- 
boats and  hearing  learned  opinions  as  to 
their  racing  qualities,  witnessing  rows, 
going  to  theatres  and  other  shows,  get- 
ting out  of  money,  and  trying  to  borrow. 
I  pretty  steadily  resisted  the  temptations 
to  all  this  dissipation,  though  I  saw  enough 
of  the  city,  as  much,  probably,  as  was 
profitable,  and  read  considerably  in  that 
big  book  of  men  and  things,  and  took 
out-door  exercise  enough  to  keep  in  health. 
It  often  cost  self-denial  to  sit  down  with 
my  book,  when  everybody  else  was  abroad 
hunting  pleasure ;  but  that  pleasure  was 
evanescent,  while  the  moments  of  youth 
spent  in'  study,  ever  afterwards  yield 
pleasant  fruit.     Let  me  assure  you,  that 


LEARN  TO   SAY  NO.  87 

what  I  learned  during  the  scraps  of  time, 
which  others  threw  away,  has  been  of  vast 
benefit  to  me.  I  know  not  how  I  could 
do  without  it. 

THE   apprentices'  LIBRARY. 

As  soon  as  1  heard  of  the  Apprentices' 
Library,  I  hastened  to  avail  myself  of  its 
privileges ;  but  it  did  not  meet  my  ex- 
pectations. The  books  were  not  selected 
for  such  a  library,  but  had  the  appearance 
of  having  been  gathered  out  of  garrets, 
and  they  were  kept  in  the  dark  end  of 
a  store-room.  I  one  day  saw  in  the  pa- 
pers, notice  of  a  meeting  to  be  held  at 
one  of  the  churches,  in  behalf  of  Appren- 
tices ;  that  addresses  would  be  delivered, 
and  the  young  people  were  invited  to 
attend.  I  was  there — heard  the  speeches, 
and  liked  them ;  for  the  speakers  promised, 


88  LEARN    TO   SAY  NO. 

(and  why  should  not  public  speakers  be 
expected  to  fulfil  their  promises?)  they 
promised  to  do  just  the  thing  which  in 
my  heart  I  had  long  been  wishing  for. 
Said  they,  (and  I  suppose  they  had  due 
authority  for  giving  such  pledges,)  "  We 
will  furnish  for  you  reading-rooms  more 
attractive  than  the  gilded  saloons — we 
will  provide  you  lectures,  better  and  more 
attractive  than  the  theatre — we  will  sup- 
ply in  the  libraries  food  for  your  minds, 
more  satisfying  than  all  the  entertain- 
ments of  confectioners." 

HOPE  DEFERRED. 

My  heart  responded,  "  Amen,  and  do 
it  quickly.  Do  it  quickly,  for  the  evils  over 
which  you  have  been  calling  your  audi- 
ence to  mourn,  are  more  alarming  even 
than  you  have  represented.    Do  it  quickly, 


LEARN   TO    SAY  NO.  89 

for  the  sake  of  pious  parents  whose  sons 
you  may  save  from  ruin ;  for  the  sake  of 
widows'  sons,  for  the  sake  of  orphan  boys 
who  now  feel  as  if  abandoned  to  walk  the 
streets,  or  to  take  shelter  in  the  drinking 
shops ;  for  their  cheerless  workshop,  or  the 
underground  kitchen  of  their  boarding 
house  is  not,  and  cannot  be  made  to  seem 
like  the  cheerful  home  they  have  left.  " 

I  heard  the  speeches  aforesaid,  and 
waited  for  the  accomplishment  of  the 
promises  contained  in  them.  But  it  was 
hope  deferred.  That  work  was  not  done, 
and  in  many  cities  it  is  a  work  which 
still  is  among  the  things  to  he  done,  and 
which  is  greatly  needed.  Those  who 
move  in  it  will  do  good  service  for  their 
country,  and  for  their  species.  And,  to- 
look  after  country  boys  in  the  towns ; 
to   go   around   through   the   shops   and 

8* 


90  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

stores,  inquiring  after  stray  lambs,  bap- 
tized children  who  have  none  to  watch 
over  them,  is  not  an  unworthy  work  for 
ruling  elders,  or  for  ministers. 

As  I  was  saying,  the  Apprentices'  Li- 
brary not  being  altogether  what  I  desired, 
I  supplied  myself  at  auction-rooms  and 
private  sales,  until  the  establishment  of 
the  "  Young  Men's  Literary  Association," 
whose  large  and  well  selected  library, 
large  and  attractive  reading-rooms,  and 
excellent  lectures  just  met  my  wishes, 
and  were  faithfully  improved  by  me,  so 
long  as  I  remained  in  the  city. 

GATHER   UP   THE   FRAGMENTS   OF   TIME. 

The  boys  will  see  that  I  have  not  at- 

, tempted  to  conceal  from  them  the  fact 

that  it  will  require  much  self-denial,  and 

a  firm  purpose  to  keep  at  one's  book  du- 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  91 

ring  those  pleasant  evenings  when  the 
streets  are  alive  with  gayety:  it  may  re- 
quire a  strong  will  always  to  carry  you 
past  the  saloons  with  their  pictures,  and 
pleasant  light  and  music,  with  free  news- 
papers and  magazines ;  and  these  may 
cause  the  dingy  walls  of  your  work-shops  to 
seem  more  dingy,  and  the  dim  light  of 
your  little  tin  lamp  to  seem  more  dim  ; 
but  persist — still  answer  your  tempter 
with  No.  Always  have  a  good  book  in 
your  drawer,  with  a  mark  at  the  place, 
that  you  may  turn  to  your  reading  in  a 
moment,  and  so  gather  up  the  fragments 
of  time,  and  in  future  years  you  will 
have  as  your  own,  baskets  full  of  know- 
ledge. 


92  LEAEN   TO    SAY   NO. 


YOUNGEST  APPRENTICE  ADVANCED. 

I  HAD  arrived  at  a  stage  in  the  history 
of  my  apprenticeship,  when  I  was  less 
ashamed  of  steady  habits.  What  I  had 
been  assured  of  amongst  my  charges  on 
leaving  home,  was  giving  evidence  of  be- 
ing true,  viz  :  that  diligence  and  attention 
to  business  will  make  a  good  workman, 
and  that  these,  with  uprightness  and  fi- 
delity to  my  employers,  would  secure 
their  confidence  and  esteem.  I  had  long 
ago  arisen  from  that  unenviable  place, 
the  youngest  apprentice's  berth.  Not 
that  this  is  to  be  despised,  or  jumped 
over.  All  professions  have  a  beginning. 
The  best  sea-captains  are  those,  who,  in 
sea  phrase,  came  up  through  the  hawse- 
hole,  and  worked  their  way  back  to  the 
cabin  :  that  is,  who  have  worked  their 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  93 

way  up  through  all  the  grades,  from 
cabin-boy  to  commander.  Well,  I  had 
advanced  in  my  position  in  the  shop,  and 
began  to  feel  that  I  could  be  independent; 
I  would  support  a  character  for  myself, 
and  not  follow  in  the  wake  of  others,  es- 
pecially if  they  were  determined  always 
to  be  boys.  For  myself,  I  felt  that  it  was 
time  to  begin  to  be  more  like  a  man ;  and 
instead  of  trifling  away  life  with  others, 
I  felt  that  it  would  be  vastly  more  noble 
to  try  and  exert  a  good  influence  over 
others,  especially  to  do  what  was  in  my 
power  for  the  benefit  of  the  younger  boys 
of  the  shop,  and  in  this  endeavour  I  found 
much  pleasure,  such  as  conducting  any 
who  could  be  thus  influenced,  to  church — 
helping  them  to  books —  walking  and  con- 
versing with  them  on  the  books  which 
either  of  us  were  reading. 


94  LEARN  TO   SAY  NO. 

I  began  to  find  time  for  some  of  the 
evening  meetings  during  the  week.  My 
love  of  the  sanctuary,  of  the  Bible,  and 
of  religious  people  was  increasing.  There 
was,  I  may  say,  a  revival  of  religion  in 
my  heart.  Fearfully,  indeed,  had  I  back- 
slidden, but  I  prayed  for  mercy  and  for- 
giveness. 

SECOND   VISIT   HOME. 

Another  visit  home  about  this  time 
was  improved  by  my  parents  in  religious 
conversation,  which  I  neither  attempted 
nor  desired  to  avoid,  but  which  I  greatly 
enjoyed.  They  urged  a  pubhc  profession 
of  rehgion,  to  which  I  answered  that  my 
mind  was  made  up  to  unite  with  the 
church  as  soon  as  I  should  return  to  the 
city.  Heretofore  I  had  been  trying  to 
argue  myself  into  a  belief  that  a  person 


LEARN   TO   SAY  NO.  95 

ma}^  be  as  «;ood  a  Christian  out  of  the 
church,  as  in  it ;  or,  if  that  could  not  be 
established,  yet  I  was  probably  too  young 
at  present  to  become  a  professor  of  reli- 
gion, for  I  might  fall,  and  so  disgrace  the 
church,  and  myself  too,  more  than  by  sin- 
ning while  out  of  the  church. 

A  CHRISTIAN  OUT  OF  THE  CHURCH  LIKE  A 
SHEEP  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

All  the  time,  however,  I  was  acting 
and  arguing  against  my  own  convictions 
of  duty,  and  ever  since,  I  have  been  see- 
ing my  error  more,  and  seeing  more,  also, 
the  loss  I  sustained  by  thinking  to  live 
an  isolated  Christian  life. 

My  young  friends,  if  you  desire  peace 
of  mind  and  the  blessing  of  God,  omit  no 
known  duty.  If  you  would  claim  the 
Lord  as  your  shepherd,  then  must  you 


96  LEARN   TO   SAY  NO. 

follow  his  call,  and  be  found  in  the  fold 
amongst  his  sheep  and  his  lambs ;  and 
heed  what  has  been  shown  you  respecting 
the  dangers  which  beset  all  who  despise 
the  under-shepherds'  care — the  care  of 
those  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made 
the  overseers  of  the  flock  of  God. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  also,  I  be- 
lieve, working  with  me  in  other  respects 
than  with  reference  to  the  duty  of  pro- 
fessing Christ  before  men.  When  the 
wanderer  begins  to  return,  there  are  helps 
afforded,  if  he  will  make  use  of  them,  to 
bring  him  all  the  ivay  back,  that  he  may  be- 
gin to  live  wholly  for  the  Lord— that  he  may 
begin  to  perform  every  neglected  duty. 

JONAH   FLEEING   FROM   GOD   AND   DUTY. 

Sometimes  when  I  have  read  how  Jonah 
refused  to  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord, 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  97 

how  he  attempted  indeed  to  run  away 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  when  the 
Lord  commanded  him  to  go  and  prophesy 
— when  I  have  read  how  God  caused 
troubles  to  follow  one  who  was  attempt- 
ing to  flee  from  his  duty ;  and  how  after 
all  he  was  compelled  to  undertake  the 
work  to  which  he  was  first  called;  I  have 
thought  that  perhaps  my  case  might  be 
something  like  his,  in  some  respects.  My 
parents  had  devoted  me  to  God,  to  serve 
him,  if  he  desired  my  service  in  that 
capacity,  in  the  gospel  ministry;  which 
office  they  esteemed,  and  justly  esteemed, 
above  every  other  office  or  honour  in  the 
world.  But  I,  as  has  been  told  you, 
shrunk  from  it,  yea,  like  Jonah,  had  tried 
to  run  away  from  it,  and  had  suffered 
somewhat,  it  may  be,  for  that  very  sin  ; 
but  now  the  fugitive  was  about  to  be 
brought  back. 


98  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 


EARLY  VOWS  AND  PRAYERS  REMEMBERED. 

My  parents,  I  suppose,  had  long  ceased 
to  think  of  my  ever  becoming  a  minister, 
but  their  early  vows  had  not  been  for- 
gotten in  heaven ;  they  had  probably  long 
ceased  to  pray  for  this  special  object,  but 
their  former  prayers  had  been  treasured 
up,  were  kept  in  remembrance,  and  should 
be  answered. 

missionary's  farewell. 

During  my  last  visit  home,  a  young 
man  who  had  once  been  my  teacher,  was 
about  departing  on  a  mission  to  the  Ka- 
rens in  Burmah.  I  was  present  at  the 
farewell  meeting,  as  it  was  called,  on 
which  occasion  his  address  was  principally 
directed  to  his  former  associates,  and  to 
the  youth  of  the  community;  and  this  was 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  99 

his  text,"  And  who  knoweth,  whether  thou 
art  come  to  the  kmgdom  for  such  a  time  as 
tliis  r  Esth.  iv.  14.  That  text  followed 
me  back  to  the  city ;  it  hovered  over  me 
w^hile  at  my  work ;  pursued  me  in  my 
w^alks ;  followed  me  to  bed  at  night;  was 
the  first  salutation  in  the  morning;  at- 
tended me  to  church,  and  found  something 
in  every  sermon  still  more  to  recommend 
and  enforce  itself.  Duty  to  the  heathen, 
and  my  own  personal  duty  to  the  heathen, 
was  the  grand  subject;  it  kept  before  my 
mind  for  six  months  without  intermission. 
I  tried  to  forget  it — to  read  and  think  on 
other  subjects,  so  as  to  crowd  this  text 
out  of  my  mind ;  but  in  vain.  Then  I 
laboured  to  set  the  matter  at  rest  by 
frovhig  that  I  could  not  be  the  person 
meant.  "  I  might  be  called  to  the  king- 
dom for  other  purposes,  but  not  to  preach 


100  LEARN    TO   SAY   NO. 

the  gospel ;  for  I  was  now  well  along  in 
preparation  for  gaining  a  living  in  another 
w^ay ;  I  might  be  useful  in  a  more  humble 
calling;  much  time  had  been  spent  in 
learning  a  trade ;  some  of  the  best  years 
for  study  had  been  otherwise  employed. 
By  continuing  at  my  trade,  I  could  earn 
money  to  aid  in  educating  and  supporting 
in  the  field  other  labourers  more  worthy 
than  myself.  Moreover,  my  talents  surely 
were  not  of  a  kind  needed,  nor  my  piety 
equal  to  what  is  expected  and  demanded 
in  this  so  high  and  holy  an  office."  So  I 
reasoned  for  weeks.  I  tried  to  satisfy 
the  text  or  the  Holy  Spirit  who  persisted 
in  holding  the  text  before  me,  by  promis- 
ing large  things  which  I  would  do  as  an 
humble  member  of  the  church  at  home ; 
and  how  could  the  work  of  missions  be 
carried  on,  unless  there  were  some  to  keep 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  101 

the  treasuries  well  supplied  ?  and  was 
there  not  as  plain  a  command  for  some 
to  labour,  "  tvorJcing  with  their  hands  the 
thing  which  is  good,  that  they  may  have 
to  give  to  him  that  needeth,"  as  there 
was  for  others  to  go  abroad  and  preach 
the  gospel  ?  I  became  liberal  for  one  of 
my  little  income,  and  often  put  all  the 
silver  I  had  into  the  plate  as  it  passed, 
and  went  to  work  afterwards  at  over- 
work, to  earn  more ;  and  to  extricate  my- 
self more  entirely  from  any  obligation  to 
study  for  the  ministry,  1  endeavoured, 
though  without  success,  to  negotiate  with 
a  young  man,  whose  acquaintance  I  had 
formed,  and  in  whose  piety  I  had  confi- 
dence ;  promising  to  educate  him,  to  keep 
working  myself  as  a  journeyman,  and 
supply  him  with  funds,  and  thus  aid  him 
through  all  the  schools  until  he  should  be 

9* 


102  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

prepared  for  the  ministry.  All  this,  how- 
ever, was  not  sufficient  to  drive  away  the 
text ;  it  kept  after  me  still,  and  continued 
saying,  "Thou,  Thou!  ^And  who  know- 
eth,  whether  thou  art  come  to  the  kingdom 
for  such  a  time  as  this  ?'  " 

CALL   TO    THE   MINISTRY. 

Then  I  sought  to  gain  time,  and  even- 
tually to  escape  altogether,  by  revolving 
in  my  mind  the  question  of  a  call  to  the 
ministry  :  what  is  it  ? — how  plain  and 
pointed  must  it  be  ? — and  however  plain 
the  call  might  have  been,  I  would  have 
been  ready  to  demand  something  a  little 
more  definite  and  distinct  yet.  The 
danger  of  one's  running  before  he  is  sent, 
was  made  use  of  to  aid  the  inclinations 
of  the  heart  in  their  protracted  warfare 
with  the  strivings  of  the  Spirit. 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  103 

All  this  time  these  reflections  and  de- 
batings  were  shut  up  in  my  own  heart, 
and  no  other  person  knew  of  the  strug- 
gles within  my  breast.  The  Bible  was 
studied  much  with  especial  reference  to 
the  question  under  consideration,  and 
much  prayer  was  offered  for  wisdom,  yea, 
for  special  direction. 

THE   DECISION. 

At  length  on  a  summer  evening,  during 
a  solitary  walk  far  away  in  the  outskirts 
of  the  city,  I  gave  up  the  contest,  and 
gave  myself  wholly  to  the  Lord,  promising 
to  follow  the  leadings  of  Providence  in 
regard  to  my  future  course. 

A  letter  was  before  many  days  sent  to 
that  elder  brother,  of  whom  I  have  told 
you.  That  letter  contained  some  account 
of  my  exercises  on  the  question  of  study- 


104  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

ing  for  the  ministrj,  asking  advice ;  with- 
out, however,  mentioning  the  decision  to 
which  I  had  been  brought.  His  answer 
was  characteristically  laconic  and  not  a 
little  chilling  to  ni3^self.  "  Who  has  ad- 
vised you  to  turn  your  mind  in  this  new 
direction  ?  The  ministry  is  a  sacred  of- 
fice, and  a  work  of  solemn  responsibihty ; 
such  a  step  should  not  be  taken  rashly." 
That  was  cautious,  and  undoubtedly  it 
was  better  than  a  too  hearty  encourage- 
ment. Indeed,  I  received  no  direct  en- 
couragement from  home  till  they  saw  me 
setting  out  in  my  studies,  and  in  a  man- 
ner which  looked  as  though  I  was  pre- 
pared to  work  my  way  through  dif- 
ficulties. Then  they  were  with  me  heart 
and  purse,  so  far  as  they  were  able. 

A  change  in  the  affairs  of  my  employ- 
ers released  me  honourably  from  further 


LEAEN    TO   SAY   NO.  105 

en2:a']fements  with  them.  Then  I  com- 
menced  working  for  wages  in  order  to 
get  a  little  fund  with  which  to  begin 
study ;  but  a  severe  wound  in  the  hand 
sent  me  home  sooner  than  I  had  ex- 
pected, to  look  up  my  long  neglected 
Latin  and  other  books.  A  covenant-keep- 
ing God  did  not  desert  me.  The  road, 
which  in  prospect  seemed  so  long  and  so 
steep,  up  through  Academy,  College,  The- 
ological Seminary,  by  taking  one  step  at  a 
time  became  easy,  yes,  delightful ;  and 
seemed,  indeed,  too  short. 

MY  FELLOW  APPRENTICES — ^WHERE   ARE  THEY  ? 

Some  of  my  young  readers  may  be  a 
little  curious  to  know  what  became  of 
my  fellow  apprentices.  Well,  I  cannot 
gratify  that  curiosity  exactly,  for  I  did 
not  keep  track  of  them  all,  and  they  scat- 


106  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

tered  about  very  much  over  the  country; 
but  as  a  kind  of  general  answer  I  can 
say,  that  of  the  class  of  boys  and  young 
men  who  spent  their  evenings  in  the 
streets,  and  w^ith  such  companions  as  are 
to  be  met  in  the  streets,  who  spent  their 
holidays  at  shooting  matches  and  ten- 
pin  alleys,  who  expended  their  pocket- 
money  at  beer-shops,  saloons,  theatres, 
and  kindred  places,  rather  than  in  books 
and  for  lectures, — of  that  class  not  many 
are  to  be  found  in  the  places  of  honour  and 
trust,  which  are  in  the  gift  of  the  people ; 
not  many  of  the  legislators,  senators, 
judges,  or  men  of  character  and  influence 
anywhere,  are  from  that  class.  I  can  tell 
you  what  I  saw  happening  to  journey- 
men w4io  had  been  apprentices  of  the 
stamp  above  mentioned.  They  were  ro- 
vers— often  wandering   over  the    earth, 


LEARN   TO    SAY   NO.  107 

from  shop  to  shop,  from  town  to  town. 
They  w^ere  generally  out  of  money,  if 
not  in  debt  for  board,  or  clothing,  or  liquor. 
How  many  a  contribution  have  I  seen 
taken  up  to  ''put  on  Ms  feet  again"  a  fel- 
low-craftsman whose  wages  had  always 
been  spent  in  riotous  living  1  When  sick- 
ness overtakes  such  fellows,  they  become 
at  once  objects  of  private  charity  or 
pubhc  charge.  When  hard  times  come, 
these  are  the  fellows  that  first  feel  it ; 
they  are  usually  the  first  to  be  thrown 
out  of  work,  and  when  out  of  work,  and 
of  course  out  of  cash,  they  must  draw 
from  benevolent  associations,  or  go  to  the 
soup-houses,  and  are  ready  for  riots.  Me- 
mory this  moment  points  to  some  who 
went  out  of  the  world  shrieking  for  help 
to  be  delivered  from  snakes  and  devils, 
and  all  the  horrors  of  mania  a  fotu.  Some 


108  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

I  heard  of  who  died  in  alms  houses,  and 
were  carried  on  a  cart  in  a  coffin  of  rough 
boards  paid  for  by  the  city's  charitj^and 
buried  in  the  potter's  field — the  carman 
and  grave-digger  being  the  only  mourn- 
ers. 

0  my  young  friends,  look  at  your  kind 
father,  your  precious  mother,  your  dear 
sisters,  and  ask  if  you  can  choose  such 
things  for  yourselves,  the  works  of  in- 
iquity and  the  wages  of  it — a  drunkard's 
revellings,  with  his  babblings  and  his 
woes — a  gambler's  wretched  life  and  mis- 
erable end — a  brothel  with  its  pollutions, 
and  the  terrible  recompense  which  a  pure 
and  holy  God  always  sends  close  on  the 
heels  of  such  crimes.  For  momentary  grati- 
fications are  you  willing  to  pay  all  the  price, 
of  which  empty  pockets,  want  of  char- 
acter, and  want  of  friends  are  the  smallest 


LEARN    TO    SAY   NO.  109 

part ;  but  of  which,  stings  of  conscience, 
death  without  hope,  and  a  bed  in  hell 
are  the  principal  part  ? 

Do  you  deliberately  choose  this  ?  If 
not,  then  set  your  face  against  every  sin ; 
yea,  flee  the  very  appearance  of  evil,  and 
ever  pray  to  our  Father  in  heaven  to  lead 
you  not  into  temptation,  but  to  deliver 
you  from  evil.  Enter  not  into  the  path 
of  the  Avicked,  and  go  not  in  the  way  of 
evil  men.  Let  your  prayer  be,  "  Gather 
not  my  soul  with  sinners,  nor  my  life 
with  bloody  men."  Be  decided  at  first, 
and  have  no  fellowship  with  unrighteous- 
ness; choose  your  companions  from  the 
godly,  rather  than  the  ungodly ;  and  be 
afraid  to  walk  in  the  counsel  of  the  un- 
godly, lest  in  a  little  time  you  be  found 
standing  in  the  way  of  sinners  more  ad- 
vanced in  w^ickedness ;  and  at  length  sit- 
ting]: habituallv  in  the  seat  of  the  scornful. 

^        10 


110  LEARN   TO    SAY   NO. 

There  is  truth  in  these  hnes,  and  mul- 
titudes to  their  everlasting  regret  have 
found  it  sOj  that 

"  Vice  is  a  monster  of  so  foul  a  mien, 
That  to  be  hated,  needs  but  to  be  seen  ; 
But  seen  too  oft,  familiar  with  its  face, 
We  pity,  then  endure,  and  then  embrace," 


NO   SAFETY  BUT    IN   CHRIST. 

But  after  all,  dear  friends,  there  is 
cause  for  fear,  yes,  there  is  cause  for  the 
greatest  anxiety  for  all  those  who  are  yet 
out  of  Christ,  for  they  are  without  God 
in  the  world,  and  consequently  without 
hope.  Who  would  remain  exposed  to 
the  wolves  and  that  roaring  lion,  and  be 
left  to  wander  on  the  cold  mountains, 
when  he  may  just  as  well  have  a  Shepherd 
who  leadeth  his  sheep  in  paths  of  right- 
eousness, and  maketh  them  to  lie  down 


LEARN   TO    SAY  NO.  Ill 

in  green  pastures,  and  to  feed  beside  the 
still  waters  ?  Who  would  remain  exposed 
to  the  sword  of  the  avenger  of  blood, 
when  there  is  a  city  of  refuge  into  which 
he  may  flee  ?  Who  would  rather  remain 
amongst  a  wicked  generation,  seeking 
worldly  indulgence,  until  the  floods  of 
divine  wrath  shall  come,  than  to  follow 
the  call  of  God,  and  go  into  the  ark,  and 
let  God's  own  hand  shut  him  in  and 
keep  him  safe? 

Oh,  then,  become  the  friends  of  God  at 
once,  then  he  will  be  your  ever-present 
help;  Jesus  will  be  your  Shepherd;  the 
Holy  Spirit  will  be  your  Teacher,  your 
Sanctifier,  your  Comforter. 

THERE  ARE  GOOD  IN  CITIES  AS  WELL  AS  BAD. 

Were  I  to  stop  here  I  might  leave  my- 
self liable  to  the  char2:e  of  scandalizing 


112  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

the  city  by  leaving  the  impression  that 
the  mass  of  city  boys  are  dissolute,  and 
that  most  master  mechanics  are  like  those 
into  whose  hands  I  fell.  I  am  glad  that 
I  need  not  leave  such  an  impression,  for 
after  some  experience  in  the  city,  I  met 
with  some  as  noble  boys  as  I  have  ever 
found  in  any  place  ;  some  that  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  city,  and  others  that 
had  come  from  the  country,  and  still 
held  fast  their  integrity ;  boys  that  looked 
straight  before  them,  turning  neither  to 
the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left.  1  found 
also  that  there  were  shops  in  the  city, 
whose  proprietors  were  godly  men ;  shops 
in  which  the  apprentices  were  looked 
after,  their  morals  guarded ;  shops  in 
which  there  was  less  beer,  where  custom- 
ers were  not  so  often  disappointed  because 
the  men  were  on  a  spree,  or  keeping  "  blue 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  113 

Monday;"  shops  whose  proprietors  took 
some  pains  to  keep  their  boys  from  form- 
ing vicious  habits,  and  the  better  to  se- 
cure this,  endeavoured  to  make  their  own 
houses  a  place  where  they  might  feel  as 
at  home,  and  helped  them  in  the  way 
where  they  might  meet  with  safe  and 
profitable  entertainments. 

Again,  because  I  have  spoken  only  of 
some  of  the  temptations  incident  to  a 
city  life,  let  no  one  get  the  impression 
that  I  suppose  a  life  in  the  c6untry  may 
be  free  from  temptation. 

TEMPTATIONS  IN  THE  COUNTRY  ALSO. 

There  are  indeed  dangers  in  the  city, 
and  a  thousand  times  more  than  1  have 
told  you  of;  and  there  are  dangers  which 
are  peculiar  to  the  city ;  but  the  country 
has  its  dangers  also,  and  some  which  are 

10* 


114  LEARN    TO   SAY   NO. 

peculiar  to  it,  as  well  as  others  which  it 
has  in  common  with  the  city.  Every- 
where the  heart  is  deceitful  above  all 
things,  and  desperately  wicked ;  every- 
where the  human  family  go  astray  from 
the  womb,  and  everywhere  that  roaring 
lion  of  which  you  have  heard,  will  be. 
He  roams  alike  over  the  green  fields,  and 
up  and  down  the  paved  streets  ;  he  lurks 
for  his  prey  in  the  work-shops,  and  places 
of  amusement  in  the  city,  in  the  retired 
villa,  and  by  the  rustic  hearth ;  therefore 
be  aware  of  his  devices,  and  ever  say, 
"  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan."  Whether 
your  lot  may  be  cast  in  the  town  or  in 
the  country.  Learn  to  say  No  to  every 
temptation,  to  any  form  of  evil.  Wher- 
ever your  lot  may  be  cast — though  it  be 
in  the  forecastle  of  a  ship  amidst  a  crew 
of  abandoned  men,  still  be  determined  to 


LEARN    TO   SAY   NO.  115 

do  your  duty,  your  whole  duty,  and,  if 
you  ask  it,  you  shall  have  help  from  God 
according  to  your  need. 

REFLECTIONS. 

Among  the  lessons  picked  up  by  the 
way,  in  running  through  this  little  narra- 
tive, of  things  remembered  by  a  city  ap- 
prentice, and  which  he  has  written  for 
reasons  similar  to  those  which  have  caused 
buoys  to  be  placed  at  the  entrances  to 
rivers  and  harbours,  and  lighthouses  to 
be  built  upon  the  coasts;  a  few  of  the 
lessons  we  have  gleaned,  we  may  here 
repeat. 

ARM   AND   DISCIPLINE    THE    SOLDIER   BEFORE 
YOU    SEND    HIM   TO    THE    WARS. 

Children  who  must  be  sent  to  the  city, 
as  well  as  youth  who  are  to  be  sent  away 


116  LEARN    TO    SAY   NO. 

to  school,  or  such  as  are  liable  in  any 
way  to  lose  the  parents'  care,  should  first 
be  well  fortified  with  a  good  religious 
education ;  should  be  well  moulded  into 
correct  habits,  and  sound  principles  should 
be  well  rooted  in  their  hearts.  The  best 
security  for  children,  whether  at  home  or 
abroad,  is  the  fear  of  God.  Let  them 
learn  to  abhor  sin,  because  it  is  in  itself 
evil  and  hateful ;  let  them  with  Joseph 
learn  to  say,  Hoiv  can  I  do  this  great 
wickedness  and  sin  against  God ! 

Parents  should  know  where  their  child- 
ren are.  If  the  children  must  be  sent 
from  home, ought  not  other  religious  homes 
to  be  found  for  them  ?  Ought  they  not  at 
least  to  be  introduced  to  some  good  min- 
ister, and  to  the  officers  of  his  church? 
Do  not  the  vows  of  the  Christian  parent 
when  he  gave  his  child  to  God  in  baptism, 


LEARN   TO   SAY  NO.  117 

require  more  care  than  is  generally  used 
in  providing  for  baptized  children,  when 
they  go  from  home  ? 

HOPE   FOR   CHILDREN   OP   THE    COVENANT. 
HOW   GOD    KEPT   LITTLE    SAMUEL. 

But  children  of  the  covenant  must 
never  be  despaired  of.  Let  the  parent 
be  encouraged  ever  to  follow  the  child 
with  prayersj  and  prayers  of  faith.  The 
darker  the  prospect,  the  harder  should 
be  the  wrestling.  And  may  there  not 
be  more  hope  for  sons  that  have  by  their 
parents  been  set  apart  to  the  service  of 
the  sanctuary,  though  such  consecration 
may  have  been  long,  yea,  long  years  before 
the  child  had  any  notion  for  that  office, 
yes,  and  while  he  hated  it — though  that 
consecration  may  have  been  as  early  as 
was  that  of  Samuel  by  his  mother  Hannah  ? 


118  LEARN   TO   SAY  NO. 

May  not  parents  have  more  strong  hope 
for  children  dedicated  to  God  in  this  way ; 
for  children  who  have  been — shall  I  say, 
doiihhj  consecrated  ?  No,  not  doubly,  but 
tuholly  consecrated  to  God,  to  be  employed 
by  him  as  he  sees  best  ? 

God  never  refuses  the  offerings  of  his 
people ;  sacrifices  made  in  sincerity  he 
will  accept ;  he  will  have  some  mark  on 
those  that  have  been  cast  on  him  from 
the  womb,  and  will  follow  them  with  his 
eye,  and  conduct  them  too,  though  it  may 
not  be  through  the  precise  course  which 
the  parent  had  marked  out.  God  some- 
times brings  the  blind  by  a  way  they 
knew  not. 

APPEAL  IN  BEHALF  OF  APPRENTICES. 

Cannot  more  be  done  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  boys  in  cities  of  the  class  of  which 


LEARN   TO    SAY  NO.  119 

we  haA^e  been  speaking  ?  May  there  not 
be  here  a  field  in  which  a  large  harvest 
may  be  gathered?  Ought  not  ministers 
and  ruling  elders  (whom  the  Holy  Ghost 
has  made  oA^erseers  of  the  flock)  and  Sab- 
bath-school teachers  to  go  occasionally 
through  the  shops,  and  see  if  there  are 
any  straying  lambs,  any  boys  in  the  situa- 
tion that  I  was  in,  just  waiting  for  any 
good  friend  to  show  them  the  way  to  church, 
and  to  a  Sabbath-school?  Then  run  and 
speak  to  the  young  men — meet  them  as 
they  first  enter  the  city — learn  what  is 
the  heart  of  a  stranger — you  may  easily 
gain  the  heart  of  a  stranger.  Pious  peo- 
ple in  cities  have  a  large  field  of  useful- 
ness; and  as  their  opportunities  are  large, 
their  harvest  may  be  abundant,  and  their 
responsibilities  surely  are  heavy. 


120  LEARN   TO   SAY   NO. 

THE   GOOD  THAT  A  SINGLE  WORD  MAY  DO. 

A  SINGLE  kind  word  may  be  of  great 
value ;  one  particle  of  encouragement 
may  do  much  towards  saving  a  poor  boy, 
who  w^as  just  about  to  throw  himself 
away ;  one  offer  of  a  helping  hand  may 
be  the  influence  which  determined  an  al- 
most entirely  ruined  youth  to  make  a  fi- 
nal struggle  to  save  himself  from  sinking ; 
to  shake  off  those  that  are  dragging  him 
down  into  the  depths,  and  to  seize  hold 
of  the  last  plank  that  is  drifting  by. 

Is  there  not  something  still  to  be  done 
for  apprentice  boys  ?  There  are,  in  some 
of  the  cities,  Christian  Associations.  These 
are  good,  but  as  a  general  thing  they 
benefit  a  grade  somewhat  higher,  and 
somewhat  older  than  those  to  whom  I  re- 
fer.    Something  is  needed  for  apprentice 


LEARN    TO   SAY  NO.  121 

boys,  and  young  clerks,  and  working 
boys  of  respectability,  who  desire  to  grow 
up  into  respectable  and  honourable  men. 
Reading-rooms,  Libraries,  Lectures  with 
maps  and  apparatus.  Debating  Clubs, 
Evening  Schools,  &c.,  boys  can,  and  will 
be  willing  to  pay  something  for;  but 
they  need  help,  help  in  the  getting  up 
and  management  of  the  whole  affair. 

Looking  at  this  subject  with  the  eye 
of  a  philanthropist,  or  only  with  the  eye 
of  a  patriot,  one  would  be  prompted  to  in- 
quire if  anything  is  needed,  and  if  any- 
thing can  be  done  in  this  direction ;  for 
it  has  been  said  that  the  politics  of  the 
whole  country  are  coloured  very  much 
by  the  politics  of  the  city. 

The  huzzas  which  so  often  run  through 
the  whole  land  generally  arise  in  the 
cities,  and  the  loudest  cries  are  from  the 
11 


122  LEARN   TO    SAY    NO. 

boys,  and  from  irresponsible  men.  And 
the  boys  are  the  future  men.  Therefore, 
bend  the  twig  as  you  wish  the  tree  to 
grow. 

Mobs  in  the  cities  are  often  started  by 
the  boys,  and  generally,  were  it  not  for 
the  boys,  riots  might  be  quelled  much 
more  easily  than  they  are.  Then, "  Take 
care  of  your  youth,  and  the  3^outh  will 
take  care  of  your  country." 


